Leeds Brewery sells pub chain to 150 year-old brewing giant
A “STRATEGIC MOVE” has lead Leeds Brewery to sell off its collection of pubs to a 150 year-old brewing giant.
Camerons Brewery, based in Hartlepool, has acquired the pubs in Leeds and York, which employ around 100 people.
The seven pubs were offloaded for an undisclosed amount.
Leeds Brewery said it wanted to refocus its efforts in its brewing business. It has a current weekly capacity of 150,000 pints, producing Leeds Pale, Yorkshire Gold, Leeds Best and Midnight Bell.
Now, founders Sam Moss and Michael Brothwell, who met at university, are looking to scale up their brewing capacity and develop new beers.
Camerons Brewery has a growing estate of pubs and in 2013 it acquired the ‘Head of Steam’ craft beer chain, which it has since expanded with the latest opening in Newcastle this summer.
Sam Moss, who founded Leeds Brewery in 2007, said: “Since we launched the business we have prided ourselves on both the beers we create and the pubs that we serve them in. Brewing beer is however our passion and this deal will allow us to focus on this so we can explore new opportunities for our existing beer brands as well as creating new ones.”
Philip Goldsborough, head of corporate at Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds office, along with Julia Caiger led a team of lawyers to advise Leeds Brewery.
Other members of the team included Daniel O’Connell, employment associate Padma Tadi, real estate associate David Cowgill, commercial partner Joanne Bone, banking partner Paddy Sturman and tax partner Alex Barnes.
