Shareholders ensure Harviestoun Brewery keeps its independence

Long-term shareholders have bought Harviestoun Brewery from Caledonian Brewing Company (CBC) to ensure its independence in the wake of the Scottish & Newcastle takeover.

Founder shareholders in CBC Sandy Orr, Donald MacDonald and long term shareholder Stephen Crawley, have bought the brewery.

Chris Miller, who has now been appointed managing director at Harviestoun, said: "It is very much business as usual here but obviously we are delighted with this turn of events.

"Although we operated as an independent business this reinforcement of our status will be well-received by beer enthusiasts and opinion-formers everywhere.

"Our aim is simply to keep making exceptional award winning beers that people enjoy drinking."

It was announced earlier today that S&NUK had agreed a deal to buy CBC, which brews Deuchars IPA.

The deal will see the Caledonian brands pass into the hands of Dutch brewer Heineken, which is taking over S&N's UK operations as part of the £7.8bn carve-up of S&N by Heineken and Carlsberg.