There is something quietly revolutionary about the micro-brewery pub tucked into the corner of Tower Street— and at the heart of it stands David Roder and his partner Ulla.
At Rye Waterworks, the air carries more than hops and malt. It carries conversation, laughter and community spirit. Ideas that begin half-formed over a pint then somehow leave fully alive. It is a place where the stools never quite match, the walls have stories to tell, and the welcome is as generous as the beer and cider.
David is the sort of man who doesn’t just brew beer – he brews possibility. His mind is forever fizzing. One week it’s a new experimental ale with a name only Rye could invent; the next, it’s creating a plaque stating that The Waterworks is the headquarters of the irrepressible Ryebellion Drummers.
When Ryebellion is performing, there is the thunder of sticks on skin — a heartbeat that spills out into the streets at mayor-makings, bonfire nights and civic celebrations. On Saturday 21February, Ryebellion played a new song by drummer Jim Austen and it received rapturous applause.
Paul Goring and David Roder then unveiled the new plaque proudly exclaiming “The Waterworks- Headquarters of Ryebellion Drummers.”
The Waterworks is a microbrewery with a macro spirit, a quirky corner of Rye where community gathers, where friendships are forged and where rebellion is measured not in defiance but in drumbeats and daring.
In David’s world, beer is only the beginning.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Kt bruce .