The figures, released on the opening day of CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival (GBBF), show that 24 of those breweries never even existed the last time the festival was held at the Olympia Exhibition Centre back in 2005.
Since last year’s GBBF 14 new breweries have started life, and with the London Brewers’ Alliance (LBA) reporting a further 14 currently in the process of setting up.
Mike Benner, CAMRA’s chief executive, said: “It’s a remarkable turnaround for London’s brewing fortunes, particularly at a time when research shows three pubs a week close across the capital.
“Brewers from Bethnal Green to Battersea are successfully targeting a new breed of discerning beer consumer, tapping into the principles of localism and environmental awareness and winning new audiences for Britain’s national drink.
“As seen at the GBBF this week, this resurging interest in real ale can offer hope to the pub industry, especially when London’s brewing business goes from strength to strength."
Steve Williams, secretary of the LBA, said: “Although London was behind the curve of the current British microbrewing renaissance; we have really caught up in 2011 and 2012 and are now proud to be at the cutting edge of the beer scene. We have new breweries and brewpubs opening every month and we can also now reasonably claim to be the brewpub capital of Europe.”
- CAMRA’s London branches have been co-ordinating a campaign – London City of Beer - to raise the profile of beer and pubs in the capital. For more information please visit www.londoncityofbeer.org.uk.