Thwaites seals pub deal with microbrewer Prospect Brewery

18-Apr-2012 - Last updated on 20-Apr-2012 at 07:39 GMT

Partnership: Thwaites has joined forces with Prospect Brewery

Lancashire brewer and pub operator Daniel Thwaites has unveiled its first pub partnership deal with a microbrewer that lets the smaller producer serve its own beers free-of-tie, and is looking to roll the agreement out further, M&C Report has learnt.

Thwaites has bought the Foresters Arms in Shevington Moor, near Wigan, from Punch Taverns for the partnership with local microbrewer Prospect Brewery.

Under the deal, which mirrors the Project William scheme from Leicestershire brewer Everards, Prospect is tied for non-cask beers and one cask from either Thwaites’ core or signature range.

Prospect, which is based in Standish, Greater Manchester, is free to stock its own cask ales, and those from other microbrewers, out of tie. Total investment and acquisition costs for the Foresters Arms, paid by Thwaites, is set to be £280,000. The pub is set to reopen in June under the name the Silver Tally, with Prospect as the tenant.

Andrew Buchanan, director of pub operations at Thwaites, told M&C Report: “We are keen to work with other microbrewers. We have had a number of conversations [with them]. We have a number of sites in our own estate where we look to this type of agreement.”

The pub is a first for Prospect, founded four years ago. Head brewster Patsy Slevin said: “Although we have no debt in the brewery, to get money for a new project is very difficult. For us, [this agreement] means we get the pub we want and it comes with good business support.”

Slevin expects to serve four or five Prospect beers at the pub, plus a guest beer from another local producer, along with a Thwaites ale.