Cheers to Gloucestershire's breweries
On Beer Day Britain, the county is very lucky to have plenty of brews to choose from
Dear readers - I would like to welcome those of you who have newly subscribed for free. This Substack does not do clickbait or pop-up adverts, just Gloucestershire news and features as well as my own personal interests.
I sadly cannot do everything as I am on my own and not every piece will be relevant to your own Gloucestershire community, but I will do my best.
If you missed this week’s roundup, the link is below.
News from the Shire - 14th May 2025
Dear readers - when a new business opens it is a newsworthy story. Pubs, restaurants, cafes, bars, independent shops etc...
If you are a new free subscriber, let me share previous pieces I have done in the county. There are some great nuggets of Gloucestershire features still worthy of a Sunday read.
"Clubs are really struggling" - Why Gloucestershire grassroots rugby is crying out for help
“Cirencester is believed to be a rich area but that is not the case"
The Tewkesbury dance group for women to strut their stuff no matter their age
Unusual Gloucester medieval tradition celebrates with anniversary banquet
There is plenty of beer to go around
If The Renaissance in the 17th century marked a significant cultural, artistic, political, and economic "rebirth" following the Middle Ages, then in recent years you can argue the UK craft beer scene has gone through its own.
Local brews are becoming increasingly popular, not just a place to have a pint, but somewhere that puts community first and is a key pillar to a local economy.
Which brings me onto why Gloucestershire has a multitide of brewery choices on offer, a sign that the independent brewing scene is popular and the strength of choice is ready and available.
The amount of independent breweries in the county is a sign of strength, the names many of you in the county will recognise including Gloucester Brewery at Warehouse 4 with Gloucester Gold a particular favourite, Stroud Brewery based in Brimscombe well-known for its commitment to organic brewing and sustainable practices, and in Cheltenham, DEYA Brewing Company is popular on the craft beer scene with its New England-style Indian Pale Ales (IPAs).
On Beer Day Britain 2025, I think we are incredibly lucky to have many breweries on our doorstep, especially for those of us who prefer a laid back drink brewed at the very place it comes from.
Plenty of pubs in the county serve the breweries I’ve mentioned too, whether that is the Town Owl Taphouse on Stroud’s High Street, The Thirsty Pine Beer Cafe in Gloucester, The Red Lion in Arlingham pulled Uley Brewery’s first pint in 1985 and continues to do so today, and Donnington Brewery itself owns a mix of pubs in the Cotswolds, such as the Golden Ball in Lower Swell or the Queens Head in Stow-on-the-Wold.
Use them or lose them is a key saying nowadays for our pubs, a stark message that could not be more important for breweries and venues that do contribute to Gloucestershire’s economy. Losing them is what is happening now, where I do have to sadly get the bad news out of the way.
Profitability challenges
Recent reports by UK-based network of chartered accountants and business advisors, UHY Hacker Young, found that 43 UK breweries became insolvent in the past year. In their words, “many small brewers are being squeezed by rising costs and weak consumer spending.”
Brian Johnson, turnaround and recovery partner for UHY also said that “recent increases in the national minimum wage and employer national insurance contributions have pushed up the wage bill for brewers. Margins have been further squeezed by inflation across ingredients, brewing equipment and energy bills.
“For smaller brewers who rely on loyal local followings, even a slight dip in demand can tip them over the edge. With so many brewers competing for attention, it’s increasingly hard to survive.”
The closure of the British pub is not helping too, but it is not all bad news as The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates independent report for 2024 found that “demand for local, independently brewed beer in the UK is strong, with SIBA members reporting production volumes up 14 per cent, meaning they have finally overtaken 2019 volumes again as drinkers’ desire to support our sector continues.”
The report does say that in the short term, “making a profit from that increased demand for beer remains a challenge, as it does for the rest of the hospitality sector. High input cost increases can’t always be passed on to customers, which puts pressure on margins already squeezed by ruinously high rates of taxation and utility cost increases.”
Let’s focus on the positives
The most important sentence I can write about breweries here in Gloucestershire is the community continues to thrive, including the taprooms that host events and create a sense of place and belonging - each venue a unique experience.
Each brewery I can think of in our county has a great story to tell and on this day to champion beer in Britain, it is worth highlighting the positives of what is happening.
Uley Brewery is celebrating its 40th anniversay this year with 10 special beers. Ken Lush, the head brewer, has been making beer for Uley for more than 35 years, where favourites include Old Spot and Pig’s Ear, a success story worth championing.
The closure of UK breweries is coupled with a late-night economy facing increasing pressure as social media and a home delivery boom shifting younger people’s attitude to going out.
Stroud Brewery has responded by hosting a second-ever Malty Story Festival, celebrating the brewery’s birthday. Putting on events to capture the music, vibes and community - this is the perfect example of a brewery offering affordability and accessibility.
A yearly birthday bash is what Goffs Brewery near Winchcombe do every summer to welcome the surrounding community, DEYA beats many beer-industry big shots to be number one in UK Beer Awards thanks to its flagship pale ale Steady Rolling Man, Clavell & Hind have rejuvinated as a business to open its taproom fairly recently in November 2023, and where I live in Tewkesbury there are a couple of brewmasters worth focusing on.
The medieval town hosts a yearly winter ales festival where you will find brews from quite a few of the county’s breweries I’ve mentioned all in one place, but in Tewkesbury itself you have the Tewkesbury Brewing Company helping to put the community on the map for good beer as well as Chris Bowley at Inferno Brewery, a firepit bar with seasonal beers to set your tastebuds alight.
Stories are important to cherish and Chris has brought a great asset to the town, where he never imagined he would end up owning and operating a brewery in Gloucestershire.
The best thing about running his brewery “has got to be the smells. Towards the end of the brewing process when you add aroma hops the smells that come off with the beer it's just a really fun activity to be a part of."
It is a place for entertainment too with live music another piece to the puzzle on how breweries can survive, but how about this for another reason why championing breweries is important - awards. Chris has entered three of his beers in for Champion Beer of Britain, one has already won Best of the South West and being entered into the Great British Beer Festival, another reason why supporting our local brews keeps them afloat because accolades mean you get searched out by beer fans.
Raise a glass!
Creating jobs, supporting innovation and making sure we have a responsible good time - Gloucestershire’s breweries are vibrant and need as much support as we can give them.
You do not have to be a seasoned beer enthusiast to understand why supporting local breweries is important, we all have different preferred tastes too. Distinct personalities, brewing traditions and culture are three things I admire about the county’s brewmasters.
A popular amber session bitter called Tom Long after the mythical highwayman of Minchinhampton Common, a Dockside Dark as an award winning porter beside Gloucester Docks, or perhaps a Cheltenham Gold to celebrate the world famous Cheltenham Gold Cup - there’s an identity attached to Gloucestershire’s breweries.
The cost of living is a challenge for consumers but the message on Beer Day Britain - lose them at your peril. Try a Gloucestershire brewery, even if it’s just once.