Moorhouse’s cheers sales hike

LANCASHIRE brewer Moorhouse’s has reported a stong start to what it expects will be a milestone year.

The £3m turnover  Burnley company said sales in January were up 10% on the same month in 2010, while the beer brewed in its new brewery has won its first award.

Moorehouse’s, owned by Manchester businessman Bill Parkinson, is nearing completion on a £4.2m investment project which will complete in April, creating 20 jobs, boosting production and adding a visitor centre and trianing school to its premises.

Brewing of the famous Pendle Witch cask ales fully began last November. It trebles former production capacity to more than 1.000 brewer’s barrels a week.

Managing director David Grant added: “January is always a challenging month for brewers. But, despite launching the new brewery in a very difficult economic climate, we have enjoyed a very encouraging start to our ambitious growth plans – which include the launch of both new cask and bottled beers.”

In a further boost Moorehouse’s latest brew,  Blond Witch, was judged as Overall Champion at Southport’s inaugural Scarisbrick Hotel Beer Festival.