Regional resurgence

Despite falling UK beer volumes, brewers in the north are having to grow rapidly to meet demand for cask ale. Tony Halstead reports

The north of England is a region of dramatic contrasts. Its changing landscape ranges from the idyllic scenery of the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales to the urban sprawls of Merseyside, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire.

In one environment, tourist and visitor income determines economic and trading success for pubs and hotels. In the other, licensees are largely dependant on the fluctuating disposable income of a resident, predominantly working-class population.

As a result pubs vary in type and make-up, but one factor remains fairly constant. Beer prices in the north are cheaper than in most other regions, and the cost of buying or leasing a pub compares favourably with many parts of the country. In terms of beer choice, northerners have probably never had it so good either. The region boasts a bigger range of regional, family and independent brewers than anywhere else in the UK. This five-page special picks out some of the best.

Daniel Thwaites

The north's biggest independent, Blackburn-based Daniel Thwaites, sums up the rich diversity that characterises the region. Reaching a 200-year brewing milestone last year, Thwaites consistently flies a flag for the virtues of a vertically-integrated brewing and pub retailing business.

The company produces more than 300,000 barrels of its own beers, lager and contract-brewed brands per year, at its Star Brewery. Its 420 pubs are spread across the entire pub-sector vista, embracing country and village inns as well as solid, community-based urban locals. Meanwhile, its beers are firm favourites in working men's clubs and sports outlets across its Lancashire heartland and beyond.

Last year, Thwaites' beer production replicated what is happening in other northern-based brewing companies. In common with other family and independent brewers, cask-ale sales are showing a remarkable resur-gence. Ales such as Thwaites Original and its flagship Lancaster Bomber helped cask-ale volumes rise a full 10% last year, and the brewer boasts a range of other ales suitable for sale in any outlet.

"We must focus on ensuring our offering is the best around and be ready to deliver to our customers in terms of service and quality," says managing director Paul Baker. "There is a saying that 'business goes where it is invited' - so we have to make sure we are in the best possible position to extend that invitation."

Four northern brewers are embarking on major expansion plans to meet soaring demand for their cask beers.

Three are smaller independent companies experiencing buoyant sales as the campaign for local beers in local pubs gathers strength.

Copper Dragon

Copper Dragon Brewery in Skipton, North Yorkshire, has begun work on a new £2.5m brewery to increase its production capacity. The 20-barrel brewhouse is under construction on a 1.8-acre site near to the company's current headquarters on the Snaygill Industrial Estate. Since it was formed in 2002, free-trade sales and supply to Copper Dragon's 10 tied pubs have helped the company hit the £2m turnover mark. Managing director Steve Taylor says production was already running

at near capacity on its current site.

"To continue with our expansion plans, it was essential to find a larger base, but also

important that the brewery remained in

Skipton, using the same historic water supply," says Taylor. "We also plan to increase our pub estate and are aiming for a medium-term target of 30 houses."

Moorhouse's

Across the border in Lancashire, Moorhouse's of Burnley intends to embark on a £2m-plus development scheme to build a new brewhouse, visitors centre and brewing school at its Accrington Road headquarters.

It is in detailed discussions with Burnley Council to obtain the necessary planning consent for the project.

Moorhouse's is also experiencing a surge in sales of its award-winning beers, helped by a Christmas TV advertising campaign that was a first for a regional independent brewer.

Trade increased by 10% last Christmas and, with brewing now approaching capacity, extra space is needed to ramp up production to 700 barrels per week. The brewery received another major boost earlier this month when its Premier Bitter added to its long list of awards by winning the Society of Independent Brewers (Siba) Silver Medal.

"Cask-ale sales are buoyant at present and it underscores our conviction that real ale is a terrific selling point for pubs, and gives us even more confidence in our exciting plans for the future," says managing director David Grant.

Acorn

Acorn Brewery, based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, is also on the expansion trail following a £250,000 investment in a new 20-barrel plant at Wombwell. The new facility gives the brewery a new capacity of 100 barrels per week allowing it to meet current demands with confidence and increase its customer base. The brewery first opened its doors in summer 2003 and in five years has made rapid progress, winning a number of top beer awards.

Acorn founder Dave Hughes says: "This is a terrific milestone for us. Our beers have proved very popular and we now have the capacity to increase sales nationwide."

Timothy Taylor

At one of the region's best known family brewers, Timothy Taylor of Keighley, West Yorkshire, volumes of its best-selling Landlord have continued to go from strength to strength.

Output at the Knowle Spring Brewery is now running close to capacity, forcing the company to consider a longer-term strategy for future production needs. The brewery site is currently undergoing a major facelift geared to expanding distribution facilities and the provision of new offices.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the company and a number of trade events will take place in the summer. The brewery kicked off the year with the launch of a special Celebration Ale, which has proved a highlypopular brew in both freetrade and tied pub accounts. In fact, the brew was so popular in one London pub that a complete 11-gallon cask was devoured by thirsty drinkers within 45 minutes of it being put on sale.

Taylor's initially said once the launch batch of Celebration Ale ran out there would be no further supplies brewed. It now concedes it may have to review the decision.

The price of a pint

Bitter: north-west

£2.06

UK average £2.28

Lager: north-west

£2.31

UK average £2.52

Spirits: north-west

£1.74

UK average £1.86

Wine: north-west

£2.58

UK average £3.05

Mineral Water: north-west

£1.16

UK average £1.24

(source: CGA Strategy)