Britain’s oldest brewery mulls future as cost pressures bite Hospitality The family-run company behind Britain’s oldest brewery is exploring its future after wrestling with soaring costs and sliding sales. Shepherd Neame, which was founded in 1698 in Faversham, Kent and is the firm behind classic British beers Spitfire, Bishop’s Finger and Whitstable Bay, said it had begun a strategic review into its brewing operations “to [...]
Ghost Ship brewer Adnams cuts staff after ‘challenging’ trading Hospitality Adnams, the brewer of Ghost Ship ale, has resorted to letting go of staff as it takes emergency measures to face up to “challenging” trading conditions. The Suffolk-based brewer and pub owner told shareholders it has kicked off “a series of operational, commercial and labour management initiatives” after facing worse-than-expected sales at the start of [...]
Family-owned Tottenham brewer falls into administration as industry pressures mount Hospitality A beloved family-owned Tottenham brewery that was a key player in London’s craft beer renaissance has fallen into administration amidst mounting cost pressures on the industry. Redemption Brewing Company, which was the first commercial brewery to open in Tottenham in nearly 100 years, is officially listed on the formal register of new insolvency appointments as [...]
Old Spanish Hen? Estrella snaps up Greene King beer brand in UK expansion May 19, 2026 The British arm of Spanish beer giant Estrella is set to snap up Greene King’s iconic Old Speckled Hen beer as it continues to expand in the UK. Damm UK, the British arm of Barcelona based brewer S.A. Damm – which owns Estrella – will take on the entire line of Old Speckled Hen beers, [...]
Jeremy Clarkson rakes in millions from Hawkstone brewery December 17, 2025 Profit at Jeremy Clarkson’s brewery Hawkstone has surged during its latest financial year after its sales almost tripled, it has been revealed. New accounts for the business behind the Cotswolds brewery show the firm’s total equity jumped from £432,512 to just over £3m in the year to 31 March, 2025. Total equity is the overall [...]
Autumn Budget: BrewDog boss issues £1bn warning to Rachel Reeves November 19, 2025 The hospitality sector needs to sell almost one million extra pints every hour in order to cope with a £1bn cost surge thanks to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ tax hikes, the chief executive of BrewDog has warned. James Taylor, who took on the job earlier this year, said Reeves needs to take ‘meaningful action’ because of [...]
Close Brothers drops brewery arm amid operations overhaul July 15, 2025 Close Brothers is set to sell off its specialist service provider division for the beer industry as the banking group continues to overhaul operations. The FTSE 250 listed group established Close Brewery Rentals Limited (CBRL) in 2007, which provides keg and cask rental, leasing, and management services for breweries and beverage producers. The division offers [...]
Britain’s independent brewers hit record turnover as small firms flounder January 30, 2025 Turnover of the UK’s top 25 independent breweries hit a record high of £1.72bn in the last year although there was a higher rate of insolvencies for small brewers, according to new data. The figure was up nine per cent year on year, according to national accountancy group UHY Hacker Young. The record turnover was [...]
Ghost Ship producer chairman ends 50-year career with historic brewer amid health concerns September 12, 2024 The chairman of beer, spirits and hospitality group Adnams has stepped down from his role, citing health reasons for his immediate departure after nearly half a century with the business.