REAL BREWING PUB COMPANY ENTERS ADMINISTRATION

It is with huge sadness and regret that we have to announce that Real Brewing Pub Company, the pub company arm of Derby Brewing Company has today entered administration. The brewery will not be affected and continue operate going forward with two of our sites the Hole in the Wall, Mickleover & NOTSA, Aston on Trent continuing to be operated by Derby Brewing under a new pub company.

 It has been an extremely challenging trading environment over the last couple of years, including the pandemic, increased loan burdens on the back of this, ongoing recruitment challenges, soaring interest rates, supplier cost increases, cost of living crisis resulting in reduced trade and huge increases in the cost base with uncapped energy contracts. In spite of these challenges we had a plan in place to continue to steer through this however the business has HMRC arrears predominantly from the pandemic, like many in the industry, the HMRC had been working with us however this recently changed and the debt was demanded to be paid back within a short period, which meant the we could no longer continue to trade.

 Sadly our two freehold sites The Greyhound, Friar Gate & Derby Brewing Tap House, Derwent Street will be sold to clear the arrears to meet their timeframe. Both will remain open and be sold as going concern safe guarding jobs and are now being marketed by the administrator.

 Three of our sites will unfortunately close with immediate effect, The Clubhouse, Derby, The Pig Lichfield & The Pointing Dogs, Matlock.

 As detailed the Hole in the Wall & NOTSA will continue to be operated by us, again safe guarding the team.

 Thankfully in all cases staff will be paid and there will be an opportunity to continue Derby Brewing’s story all be it in a different and smaller guise.

A personal message from the family

 It is with huge regret that we have been unable to steer the business through this extremely challenging period. We have unfortunately joined a growing list of operators to close previously successful businesses. The final nail in the coffin was a combination of the government allowing energy contracts five-fold previous levels to remain in place once their 50% support was removed and the in our view unreasonable behaviour of the HMRC.

 We are extremely sad for the team members who have lost their jobs and the dismantling of a business we as a family have been built over nearly 20 years.

 Paul Harris

MD

Derby Brewing

This is an extremely upsetting situation for the team and family, we are pleased however that we have been able to continue the name of Derby Brewing, returning the business into a smaller family operation where we hope to build from.

 Trevor Harris

 Director of Brewing