CEO James Taylor communicated with staff earlier this week, addressing the “extremely difficult” market conditions affecting the business.
In his message, Taylor indicated that BrewDog plans to “redeploy many affected team members” across its network of pubs. He emphasized the company’s commitment to “minimise the impact on our people”.
To facilitate this transition, BrewDog will initiate a 14-day consultation period with all impacted staff.
The closures will affect several locations, including the original BrewDog pub in Aberdeen, along with bars in Brighton, Camden, Dundee, Leeds North Street, Oxford, Sheffield, Shepherd’s Bush, Shoreditch, and York.
“This is not a decision we’ve taken lightly,” Taylor explained.
“However, as we evolve BrewDog into a more focused and sustainable business, we’ve had to be honest about where we are – and where we’re heading. Despite these changes, we remain firmly committed to our bars.”
Taylor became BrewDog CEO in March of this year after the immediate resignation of James Arrow.
In addition to Taylor’s letter, a BrewDog spokesperson released the following statement: “We can confirm that following a review of our bars business, we have made the difficult decision to close 10 bars. This adjustment reflects a more focused strategy and a rationalization of our bar footprint.”
“Despite our best efforts and the dedicated work of our teams, it has not been feasible to make these bars commercially viable. This decision is not a mere reaction to the challenging UK hospitality market, but a proactive measure to redefine the bar division’s focus for long-term and profitable growth, taking into account the ongoing industry difficulties, such as rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures.”
“We are diligently working to minimize the impact on our people, and we expect many affected team members to be redeployed within the BrewDog network. For individuals leaving the business, we are offering as much support as possible during this transition. We remain passionate and firmly committed to our bars, while also being optimistic about the future, as we perceive significant long-term opportunities ahead.”
