Member Article

London microbrewery sets its sights on York

A new craft brewery is using the world’s first equity crowdfunding platform to establish a venture in North Yorkshire.

Stu Small, who runs one-year-old Little Brew of Camden Town, will soon be establishing a presence in York, using Crowdcube to raise the money for his planned business expansion.

The energetic brewer, whose ales feature in the CAMRA Good Bottled Beer Guide, turned to the crowdfunder for the move, because it gives entrepreneurs the chance to control the fundraising process from their own networks of friends, family, customers and strangers.

He is offering investors the chance to put in as little as £100 to receive a share in the business as well as a generous amount of beer. Larger investments will be rewarded with the opportunity to design and name a beer whilst sharing in the success of the growing micro-brewery sector.

The company qualifies for SEIS and EIS tax relief, which, it claims, makes it a particularly attractive opportunity.

Stu Small said: “Brewing my passion. It has been an amazing experience getting the business off the ground and after a successful ‘proof of concept year’ in Camden I’m really excited to be bringing our range of finely crafted artisan ales to North Yorkshire. I know the markets, suppliers, local produce and opportunities here, having got to know the area when studying for my masters degree in Middlesbrough.”

Little Brew has five lines - Gold, Pale, Porter, Ruby and Extra Tusks - and also offers customers the chance to specify their own bespoke beers in runs of 400 bottles.

The former environmental services professional added: “Sustainability is at the heart of Little Brew. For me, this means using local suppliers and ingredients whilst creating jobs and being a positive force within the community.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Gatehouse .