Beer entrepreneurs add to craft brewery enterprise

THE entrepreneurial team behind Sheffield’s Little Critters Brewery has purchased a site to house their growing microbrewery business.

Mark and Matthew Steer have bought their new site with funding support from NatWest and the bank’s asset finance partner Lombard.

One job has been created with more to come as the business grows.

ITs parent company is Lancar Ltd, under which they have an IT firm as well as two South Yorkshire pubs:The Fox and Duck in Broomhill and The Doctor’s Orders on Glossop Road.

To support the volume of beer which is sold in the pubs, Mark began making his own brews just over a year ago.

Mr Steer said: “We made a few different brews which were tested with my family and then we adapted recipes from there. Little Critters is looking to brew eight cask ales which are made up of five core ales and three bottled products.

“I think you are seeing a trend of people wanting to return to locally produced products instead of mass market varieties. People want more choice and want to support local businesses which is part of the reason you are seeing more microbreweries like Little Critters.”

Mark said: “Gavin is a really supportive bank manger. He is on hand to offer strong advice. We have a good relationship with NatWest and can rely on their support.”

NatWest relationship manager Gavin Senior said: “I was delighted to support Mark and Lancar on the purchase of a new site for the Little Critters Brewery. It’s a great business which continues to grow and I wish the business every success for the future.”

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