BrewDog Announces Immediate Closure of 38 UK Bars, Including Midlands Locations
BrewDog has confirmed the immediate shutdown of 38 of its bars across the United Kingdom, a move that will lead to significant job losses for hundreds of employees. The closures impact multiple regions, including the Midlands, and come as part of a major restructuring effort following a recent sale to an American company.
Job Losses and Financial Impact
According to administrators for the brewer, the closure of these 38 bars will result in the loss of 484 jobs. This decision affects employees at various locations that were not included in a recent £33 million sale to US firm Tilray Brands. The job cuts highlight the broader challenges facing the hospitality sector and the specific financial pressures on BrewDog.
Sale to Tilray Brands and Acquired Venues
In a rescue deal, Tilray Brands has acquired the BrewDog brand, its UK brewing operations, and 11 pub venues across the UK and Ireland. The bars that are closing were excluded from this transaction, indicating a strategic shift in BrewDog's business model. The acquired venues include key locations such as Birmingham in the West Midlands, several in London, and others in Manchester and Edinburgh, which will continue to operate under the new ownership.
List of BrewDog Bars Closing
The 38 bars set to close immediately are spread throughout the UK, with notable closures in:
- Basingstoke, Hampshire
- Bath, Somerset
- Bournemouth, Dorset
- Bristol – Baldwin Street
- Bristol – Harbourside
- Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
- Cardiff, Wales
- Carlisle, Cumbria
- Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
- Exeter, Devon
- Multiple locations in London, including Soho, Camden Road, and Hammersmith
- Liverpool, Merseyside
- Manchester – DogHouse Manchester and Manchester Outpost
- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
- Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
- Norwich, Norfolk
- Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
- Plymouth, Devon
- Reading, Berkshire
- Southampton, Hampshire
- Several locations in Scotland, including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Stirling
List of BrewDog Bars Acquired by Tilray
The 11 venues that were part of the sale to Tilray Brands and will remain open include:
- Birmingham, West Midlands
- London – Canary Wharf, Paddington, Seven Dials, Tower Hill, and Waterloo
- Manchester – Peter Street
- Ellon – DogTap
- Edinburgh – DogHouse Edinburgh and Edinburgh Lothian Road
- Dublin
This development marks a significant change in the UK's hospitality landscape, with BrewDog focusing on a streamlined portfolio under new ownership while leaving many communities without their local bars.
