Entrepreneur Buckley snaps up Archers of Swindon

Brewing entrepreneur Simon Buckley has bought the remains of Archers of Swindon for an undisclosed sum.

Archers, which until March this year brewed in Swindon, went into administration following a period of difficult trading.

The brewery has been acquired by the Buckley family to extend its Welsh brewing operation, and to give it access to new markets in the South West along the M4 corridor into London.

The Buckley family has brewed beer in Wales since 1767, and Simon Buckley owns Evans-Evans brewery in Llandeilo.

The Archers brands and the brewing and wholesaling business will be known as Wiltshire Ales, with brewing transferred to Llandeilo, taking production there to capacity.

It will also mean the creation of new jobs at a new distribution centre near Swindon and additional production facilities in Wiltshire.

Buckley, managing director of Wiltshire Ales, said: "Wiltshire Ales is a new cask ale specialist brewer, which will be based in Swindon.

"We will be revitalising some of the famous Archers brands and adding new Wiltshire Ale seasonal beers.

"We will not be re-badging Evan-Evans beers as Archers!

"We see this as a major opportunity for our company to develop new trading opportunities outside of Wales and to tap into the lucrative south-east of England market, and for the first time to be able to make Archers and Evan-Evans beers available in the London area.

"We have followed the fortunes of Archers for over three years, and now have had the opportunity to acquire the assets on favourable terms.

"We see this acquisition as the first of several that will allow our company to expand its production, and will ultimately lead to further consolidation of good medium-sized small brewers into larger more efficient production groups.

"We remain committed to brewing in Llandeilo where we are making further investment to build on the Evan-Evans brands, and developing the new Wiltshire ales business.

"Over the last few years, the Archers brands have suffered from varying quality issues. We intend focusing on returning the brands to their former glory, and to commence brewing in Wiltshire in the early part of next year. Until then, the beers will be brewed in South Wales.

"The company will launch a series of Archer bottle beers and will develop these brands for the take home, and international bottle market."