Jarrow Brewery raises glass to Reward Capital as it toasts expansion

A North East brewery has opened a new facility which will make it the largest independent brewer on Tyneside.

Jarrow Brewery has opened a £500,000, 40 barrel plant on the Bede Industrial Estate in Jarrow, Tyne & Wear after filling a gap in its funding.

The brewery now plans to create new jobs after receiving nearly a quarter of a million pounds investment.

The move will create five new jobs at the £2 million turnover company, with a further 10 predicted over the next three years. It will also increase the brewery’s capability to sell its range.

The facility will have the capacity to produce 72,000 pints a week - five times more than the brewery has been able to manufacture previously.

The majority of the funding - £140,000 - has come from the Regional Growth Fund, while Leeds based Reward Capital has invested £80,000.

Co-owner Jess McConnell said the money was vital to the brewery increasing its bottling operations, expand its operations internationally and create local jobs.

The 61-year-old said: “Our beers have an excellent reputation and a loyal band of followers so we’re in an excellent position to aggressively extend our brand and increase our turnover.”

He added that Jarrow Brewery, which has also received private investment to open the new facility, was looking to launch a share issue to raise further funds.

Established by Jess and his wife Alison McConnell in 2002, Jarrow Brewery, which presently employs 60 people, also operates four successful pubs in the North East of England.

Their children Janine, 33, Mikaela, 25, and Lewis, 26, all work for the brewery.

Its popular range of ales includes Jarrow Bitter, Rivet Catcher, Venerable Bede and McConnell’s Irish Stout.

Dave Jones, partner at Reward, said: “Jarrow Brewery is a fast-growing family-owned business but it needed Reward’s help to make its new brewing facility a reality.

“We were absolutely delighted to help Jess and his family make this investment which will help the company continue its expansion.”

Commenting on Reward’s involvement, Mr McConnell added: “Reward’s funding has been vital to progress the brewery as we awaited the investment funds to be approved.

“This new facility makes Jarrow Brewery the largest independent brewer on Tyneside by size of plant and advanced sales.”