Stockport brewer consolidating operations on Bredbury site in £12m investment

Celebrated North West brewer Robinsons is investing more than £12m in new head office facilities.

The sixth generation family-run brewer and pub operator is to relocate its Stockport town centre brewing and head office operations to its packaging centre site in Bredbury.

Bosses say the move will result in no compulsory job losses and, in fact, it will herald an increase in employment in coming years through its ongoing pub investment and expansion strategy.

And it will create new development opportunities for the vacated town centre site.

The relocation will include the installation of a new brewhouse and will mean all operations including brewing, cask racking, kegging, bottling lines, logistics and a new office facility will be housed on one site – the first time since 1949.

The packaging operation has been in Bredbury for more than 40 years.

Joint managing directors Oliver and William Robinson said it would be an industry-leading environment with all teams under one roof and give the business the ability to provide a more modern, flexible and greener brewing and packaging operations.

The relocation is expected to be completed by 2025.

Described by the brewery as a journey to create one of the best working environments in Stockport, the investment at Bredbury will aim to express the company’s rich heritage and support much stronger working practices and collaborations between employees.

Robinsons has been proud custodians of the town centre Unicorn Brewery since William Robinson acquired the Unicorn Inn in 1838 and acknowledged it had been a difficult decision. But the economic and logistical limitations of the site could not be ignored, it said.

The company has been working with Stockport Council to look at the opportunity that freeing up the present brewery site would provide for further regeneration of the historic town centre.

The Unicorn brewery in Stockport town centre

Robinsons’ wider plans include the acquisition of new pubs to add to the brewery’s 23 managed houses and further investment in its 230 tenanted pubs.

Around 50 people, who currently work in head office, brewery and cellar service roles in Lower Hillgate, will make the move to Bredbury. Robinsons’ famous Shire horses will also be relocated to a new home.

Cllr Elise Eilson, leader of Stockport Council, said: “It is great to see Robinsons continuing to invest in Stockport where they have been doing business for many years. This is also really good news for jobs within the borough. We look forward to seeing their future plans for the town centre site as they are developed over the coming months.”

Oliver and William Robinson said: “The family is very proud of our heritage in Stockport and very respectful of it.

“This announcement demonstrates our commitment to writing a new chapter in our history, continuing to brew, deliver and package award-winning cask, keg and bottled beer from Stockport under 100% family ownership.”