Times are hard - very hard - in the brewing and hospitality industries. One of the country's longest-established family brewers - Adnams of Southwold - are urgently seeking ways to refinance their debts. (Sources: The Guardian, Drinks Business and various CAMRA* platforms....sorry, I can't do a link).
Meanwhile, nearer to home (for me), Elland Brewery in Calderdale have called a creditors' meeting for this Friday, 16th February, to decide whether or not to go into voluntary liquidation. Although only established - under various names - for slightly less than 30 years, they have a established an enviable reputation for producing high quality cask-conditioned ales....and their excellent 1872 Porter is currently CAMRA's Champion Beer of Britain - for the third time. (Sources: Drinks Business, Halifax Courier and various CAMRA platforms). Let's hope that a buyer can be found who can at least continue production of the 1872 Porter.
Smaller brewers have been hit over the past few years with the quadrupel whammy of Covid, soaring costs of raw materiels, soaring energy costs and high rates of duty....not to mention market saturation caused by an ever increasing number of new start-ups chasing an ever-decreasing market caused by the accelerating rate of pub closures.
Watch this space for news of more brewery insolvencies.
(*CAMRA - Campaign for Real Ale)