The Liberation Group has acquired Butcombe Brewery, bringing together two of Britain’s best-known independent brewery and pub companies, which will now have 94 pubs, bars and eateries, two breweries brewing over 30,000 barrels of award winning beer as well as retail and wholesale operations employing more than 750 staff.
The Liberation Group has established itself as the leading pub and drinks business in the Channel Islands, with 75 predominantly freehold pubs, the Liberation Brewery and two retail and wholesale drinks supply businesses.
Butcombe Brewery is the leading brewer and pub operator in Somerset, Bristol, Bath, the Mendips and the Cotswolds, with 19 managed pubs and the multi-award winning Butcombe Brewery. The company prides itself on its traditional, classic pubs, prize winning beers, as well as Ashton Press ciders from its wholly owned subsidiary, the Long Ashton Cider Company.
The combined business will benefit from stronger buying power and supply opportunities, enabling Liberation Group to sell Butcombe beers in the Channel Islands, while exporting Liberation ales on draught and in bottles into UK pub chains and supermarkets with whom Butcombe already has excellent relationships.
Liberation Group intends to invest in Butcombe Brewery’s existing pubs, seeking brand consistency across the group and planning to refresh the food offering with further local produce and recipes. Expansion is planned to build a portfolio of food-led managed and high quality tenanted pubs, whilst continuing the growth and development of the Butcombe beer and cider range.