Norwich shop sets up £10,000 filming studio

Published:
07:00 2 May 2022

A city scientist turned brewer used his Covid grant to set up his own film studio in his shop.

Paul Dowrick, owner of Goodlife Homebrew, spent his £10,000 provided to businesses during the first lockdown to pursue his passion for filming and photography.

He has set up a film studio at the back of his store in the Sweet Briar Industrial Estate which offers a wide range of supplies and equipment for making wine, beer, cider, liquors and spirits.

It comes with a green screen and state-of-the-art filming equipment.

Paul Dowrick, owner of the Goodlife Homebrew store, has set up his own movie studio in the back of the store to teach people how to make their own alcohol at home.
– Credit: Kate Wolstenholme

The businessman is launching new Facebook Live videos filmed in his shop to teach people how to make their own alcohol at home.

This will be filmed every Sunday, teaching customers how to make drinks from scratch.

Paul Dowrick, owner of the Goodlife Homebrew store, has set up his own film studio in the back of the s

Paul Dowrick, owner of the Goodlife Homebrew store, has set up his own movie studio in the back of the store to teach people how to make their own alcohol at home.
– Credit: Kate Wolstenholme

Mr Dowrick said: “When the government grant became available I thought about what I could do for the industry.

“It’s about beating the internet and thinking about how we’re going to get people back into the store. We have to give them a reason to come here.”

Paul Dowrick, owner of the Goodlife Homebrew store, has set up his own movie studio in the back of the store to teach people how to make their own alcohol at home.
– Credit: Kate Wolstenholme

Customers who have purchased products from the store can participate in live teaching sessions.

Mr Dowrick first became interested in film and photography after working with cancer cells under a microscope during his PhD in cell biology at the University of East Anglia.

The Goodlife Homebrew store in Norwich
– Credit: Kate Wolstenholme

Setting up the filming equipment on his own took Mr Dorwick up to a month to drive straight to the store.

Mr Dorwick continued: “The studio was originally set up at the front of the store, but people wondered what that was.

Paul Dowrick, owner of the Goodlife Homebrew store, has set up his own movie studio in the back of the store to teach people how to make their own alcohol at home.
– Credit: Kate Wolstenholme

“I originally filmed a YouTube video on how to make a juicer and I plan to start a homebrew club.”

He has previously spoken of the struggles of running a brewing business after the ‘perfect storm’ of Covid, the cost of living crisis and the closure of Sweet Briar Road which saw customer numbers plummet.

Paul Dowrick, owner of the Goodlife Homebrew store, has set up his own movie studio in the back of the store to teach people how to make their own alcohol at home.
– Credit: Kate Wolstenholme

Mr Dowrick previously repaid up to £6,000 in a single Saturday.

But in April he only earned £5,000 for the whole month.