Family-owned brewery and pub operator, Brewer's Ltd, trading as Mitchell’s of Lancaster, has fallen into administration. The company was founded in 1871 by William Mitchell and it has remained a family business for 140 years.
Steven Muncaster and Sarah Bell of Duff & Phelps Ltd have been appointed joint administrators of the group’s 13 pubs and one hotel, which continue to trade. The administration has seen 14 head office staff made redundant, but the 49 brewery employees retain their jobs.
York Brewery, which was founded in 1996 and acquired by Mitchell’s in 2008, has also been placed in administration. The business is not only a working brewery and tap room, which is a tourist attraction, but it also operates four pubs.
Muncaster, managing director of Duff & Phelps, said, “The UK pub sector has suffered sustained adversity over the last decade, with the latest ONS statistics showing that nearly a quarter of pubs have closed since 2008, with the majority of these closures being small pubs.
“This troubled landscape coupled with rising business rates, increased minimum wage, and the continued uncertainty surrounding Brexit has created difficult conditions for pubs across the UK. As such, the owners were left with no alternative but to put the company into administration. We are seeking a buyer for the group and we encourage any interested parties to come forward as soon as possible.”
Muncaster concluded, “While York Brewery is a popular destination for both locals and tourists, the company has unfortunately continued to face cashflow pressures as a result of difficult conditions which are affecting the leisure industry and pubs across the country. We are seeking a buyer and we encourage any interested parties to come forward as soon as possible.”
