Brewery’s pub business calls time on venues as administrators appointed

A Derby brewery’s pub business has been placed into administration.

Derby Brewing Company has called in administrators to its Real Brewing Company, the pub company. The move will mean that the company’s two freehold venues The Greyhound on Friar Gate, and Derby Brewing Tap House on Derwent Street will be sold to clear arrears. Both will remain open and be sold as going concerns, with jobs safe, according to the company.

Three of the group’s other sites – The Clubhouse in Derby, The Pig in Lichfield and The Pointing Dogs in Matlock have closed.

A statement from the company said: “It is with huge sadness and regret that we have to announce that Real Brewing Pub Company, the pub company arm of Derby Brewing Company has entered administration.

“The brewery will not be affected and continue operate going forward with two of our sites the Hole in the Wall, Mickleover & NOTSA, Aston on Trent continuing to be operated by Derby Brewing under a new pub company.

“It has been an extremely challenging trading environment over the last couple of years, including the pandemic, increased loan burdens on the back of this, ongoing recruitment challenges, soaring interest rates, supplier cost increases, cost of living crisis resulting in reduced trade and huge increases in the cost base with uncapped energy contracts.

“In spite of these challenges we had a plan in place to continue to steer through this however the business has HMRC arrears predominantly from the pandemic, like many in the industry, the HMRC had been working with us however this recently changed and the debt was demanded to be paid back within a short period, which meant the we could no longer continue to trade.

“As detailed the Hole in the Wall & NOTSA will continue to be operated by us, again safeguarding the team.
Thankfully in all cases staff will be paid and there will be an opportunity to continue Derby Brewing’s story all be it in a different and smaller guise.”

Trevor Harris, director of brewing, who set up the company, said: “This is an extremely upsetting situation for the team and family, we are pleased however that we have been able to continue the name of Derby Brewing, returning the business into a smaller family operation where we hope to build from.”

Paul Harris, managing director, added: “It is with huge regret that we have been unable to steer the business through this extremely challenging period. We have unfortunately joined a growing list of operators to close previously successful businesses. The final nail in the coffin was a combination of the government allowing energy contracts five-fold previous levels to remain in place once their 50% support was removed and the in our view unreasonable behaviour of the HMRC.

“We are extremely sad for the team members who have lost their jobs and the dismantling of a business we as a family have been built over nearly 20 years.”

Earlier this month, Derby Brewing Company won an Outstanding Achievement Award at the Marketing Derby Food and Drink Awards.