BrewDog is set to shutter ten on-premise outlets in the UK as part of a “rationalisation of our bar footprint”, including its flagship bar in Scotland.
The Aberdeen outlet will be joined by Dundee in terms of Scottish closures, while England will see BrewDog’s own bars in Brighton, Leeds, Oxford, Sheffield, Shepherds Bush in London and York, as well as two other venues in the capital, cease operations. The number of employees affected by the decision was immediately available.
In a letter to staff, CEO James Taylor (below) said the company expects “to redeploy many affected team members across the BrewDog network”, while a “consultation process with all affected staff” has been implemented.
Taylor, who took the wheel earlier this year less than a year after his predecessor was appointed, pointed to “continued challenges facing the UK hospitality industry”, such as “rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures”.
The move forms part of a “wider refresh” that “positions our bar portfolio for long-term, profitable growth, but also takes into account the continued challenges facing the UK hospitality industry”.
He added that the revised strategy will focus on “two core pillars”; destination hubs and community bars. The former will include “large-format, high-impact immersive venues” including Tower Hill and Waterloo Station in London, Las Vegas, Berlin, Brisbane and Dublin. Meanwhile, the latter refers to “smaller, local spaces”.
“This decision is not simply a response to the challenging UK hospitality market, but a proactive decision to redefine the bar division’s focus,” he said.
In May, BrewDog secured ‘official beer partner’ status for its namesake brand with West Ham United and the UK soccer club’s London Stadium.
