Member Article

UK Breweries cheer 70-year high

The beer industry is celebrating a boost over the last year, as the highest number of breweries are operating in the UK for more than 70 years.

The real ale campaign group CAMRA issued its “Good Beer Guide” on Thursday, and announced 1,009 breweries are currently in operation, with the highest rate of openings recorded in the publication’s history.

CAMRA, which stands for campaign for real ale, said the number of beer producers has doubled in the last decade, while 158 new breweries opened in the last year.

Editor of the Good Beer Guide, Roger Protz commented: “A double dip recession has done nothing to halt the incredible surge in the number of brewers coming on stream, making the small brewing sector surely one of the most remarkable UK industry success stories of the last decade.

“As a ratio there is now just under one brewery for every 50 pubs in the UK, so for certain pubs who are struggling in the current climate, there is a big opportunity to tap into this exciting market and work with a local brewery.

“In many cases, a pub serving quality real ale at the bar is an indicator of quality in other areas of the business.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .