{"id":6639,"date":"2026-09-29T17:58:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T17:58:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/?p=6639"},"modified":"2026-09-29T17:58:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T17:58:18","slug":"brewery-news-september-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/index.php\/2026\/09\/29\/brewery-news-september-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Brewery news – September 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Better news<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) has a Brewery Tracker database that monitors the number of independent breweries in Britain.  The numbers for the first six months of this year are encouraging.  The rate of closures has fallen and, as at 30 June, there were 1,550 breweries, a reduction of 16.  This compares to an overall loss of 137 in 2025.  The south-east, the north-west and Wales each saw an increase of three while Scotland lost nine, the north-east eight and the midlands and Northern Ireland each lost four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As explained in CAMRA\u2019s recent report, Beer in the UK<\/em>, while help with running costs would be more than welcome, the best way forward for these breweries is for them to be able to sell their beers more widely.  At present they are denied access to 62% of the country\u2019s pubs because of the tied house system.  The Government needs to give priority to its \u2018access to market\u2019 review.  Also, we consumers deserve the much wider choice that this would bring.  For more information, read the report at https:\/\/camra.org.uk\/beer-report<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bohem Brewery<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bohem was founded in early 2017 by Czech expatriates Petr Skocek and Zdenek Kudr.\u00a0 They brew traditional Bohemian lagers using the decoction method on bespoke brewing equipment.\u00a0 This was specifically designed for the style and manufactured for them in the Czech Republic. \u00a0They soon outgrew their original site and so, in 2018, moved into larger premises on an industrial estate in Tottenham.\u00a0 They have recently added a fourth pub, the Packington Arms<\/a> i<\/strong>n Islington, to their estate.\u00a0 It joins the Nicholas Nickleby in Finsbury Park (N4 4ED), the Queens Arms<\/strong><\/a> in Battersea and their original tap room<\/a> <\/strong>in Myddleton Road in Bounds Green.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brakspears make a move<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These days, Brakspears are a pub company rather than a brewery but, as with Young\u2019s and Fuller\u2019s, they still have their own branded beers, brewed under contract.  Up until recently, Brakspears beers have been brewed by Carlsberg Britvic in Burton-on-Trent.  This came about following Carlberg Marston\u2019s takeover and closure of the Wychwood Brewery in 2023.  This arrangement has now ended.  In September, it was announced that brewing had transferred to the Hogs Back Brewery in Tongham, Surrey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is some history here.  The owner of Hogs Back, Rupert Thompson, previous owned the Wychwood Brewery and in 2004 invested around \u00a3300,000 on moving Brakspears\u2019 vital double drop fermenters from the original Henley on Thames site across Oxfordshire to Wychwood in Witney.  Those original fermenters were lost in the Carlsberg Marston takeover but they are now being recreated at Tongham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will be two beers.  Brakspear Original Gravity (3.4% ABV) is a recreation of the classic Breakspear\u2019s bitter and is being brewed at its original strength.  Michael Jackson, the Beer Hunter, thought it the best ordinary bitter in England.  It is joined by Noble Nectar (4% ABV), described as a modern, hop-forward pale ale.  Interestingly, it is brewed with Farnham White Bine hops, a variety rescued by Hogs Back and grown on the hop farm next to brewery.  Both beers are brewed using the original Brakspear yeast strain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most Brakspear pubs are in their traditional areas of Berkshire and Oxfordshire but there are some 12 of them in London.  The beers will also be available in the free trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greene King<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further to the report in our June\/July edition, as part of their new estate strategy GK have put a further 65 pubs on the market.  These are reported to be good performing, wet-led pubs, spread across the UK.  A number of pubs may also be transferred from their managed estate to being leased, tenanted or franchised.  GK currently have an estate of around 2,500 pubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, GK have announced a \u2018multimillion-pound\u2019 investment in 39 pubs in London which they describe as \u2018the core of the core\u2019.  Some \u00a36 million has already been spent on 20 pubs, with a spend of \u00a39 million planned for the other 19.  Speaking to the Times<\/em>, GK\u2019s chief executive, Nick Mackenzie, made it clear that they were aiming for the tourist trade.  He said, \u201cPeople still want to come into pubs as tourists and they want a London pub experience.  They want a cold pint of beer; they want fish and chips<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GK are also planning a new brand of community-based pubs called Cornerstone Pubs, offering \u2018everyday great value\u2019.  They will replace some of GK\u2019s carvery style outlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Awards for Hammerton<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hammerton have a long history.  The brewery was founded in its modern form in 2014 by Lee Hammerton and Karina Benavente, though it revives a historic London family brewing legacy that began in 1868 before closing in the 1950s.  They have recently won two awards.  The company\u2019s Philip Kessecev is pictured receiving them.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The CAMRA award on the left is a Bronze for their N1 pale ale (4.1% ABV) in the Champion Beer of Britain London & South East regional round for session pale, blonde and golden ales. \u00a0The award on the right is for winning the speciality category (for cask beers) in the regional SIBA competition with their peanut butter milk stout, Crunch (5.4% ABV).\u00a0 Crunch now goes forward to SIBA\u2019s national judging at their exhibition in Liverpool next year.\u00a0 Christine Cryne was the chair of the final judging panel.
John Cryne<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Park Brewery to close<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kingston on Thames based Park Brewery, set up in 2014, have announced that they are closing down.  Despite their very best efforts, owners Josh and Frankie Kearns do not believe that it is right to continue in the current financial climate.  Both the brewery and Park Brew & Kitchen have been placed into creditors’ voluntary liquidation.  This means that they are closing down on their own terms and not under pressure from creditors.  The sites and equipment are to be sold and may reappear in new guises.  We thank Frankie and Josh for their efforts over the years and wish them the very best for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The band plays on<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I was a tad younger and living in Blackpool, going to see a gig in a pub was de rigueur<\/em>.  We’d stand in line before being admitted to the basement area at a costly 50p a head, or was it \u00a31?   It was worth it; bands I saw in their early stages included, among others, Genesis and Van der Graaf Generator.  Bands often started their careers in pubs and late-night venues.  That’s why the decline in such venues is a serious threat to the future of music in this country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, with Signature Brew, we have a brewery whose passion is live music.  The beers they produce often reflect this.  In this case it is \u2018Do It Right\u2019, described as a crisp, refreshing Czech-style pale lager.  I do not disagree.  Signature have teamed up with electronic music icons Groove Armada and regenerative farming pioneers Wildfarmed to produce the beer, which is brewed using their regeneratively farmed malted barley.  You can find the canned beer in Waitrose stores and no doubt at the brewery itself.  Signature hopes the brew is helping to bring nature back to fields and support British farmers while also continuing their passion for live music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We should be supportive of a brewery that itself supports live music and British farmers and brews good beer.\u00a0 Find out more at https:\/\/www.signaturebrew.co.uk\/<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0 And should you be interested, both of the bands that I mention were formed in 1967.
John Cryne<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wimbledon Brewery<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wimbledon Brewery held a beer festival at their tap room from Friday 4 to Sunday 6 September. \u00a0It was very well attended, with a great mix of customers. \u00a0They had a choice of 22 cask beers, 19 keg beers, four draught ciders and eight 750ml sharing bottles, including Brasserie Cantillon and Brasserie Rodenbach.\u00a0 In addition, two new Wimbledon beers were available.\u00a0 These were Cascadia, a 4.8% ABV West Coast pale ale with Cascade as the lead hop. \u00a0It is hoppy, with citrus and tropical fruit notes and some bitterness.\u00a0 The other was Kaiser, a 5% ABV Vienna style Lager. \u00a0It is malty with fruit and bitterness in the taste, leading to a malty, bitter somewhat dry finish.\u00a0 They are available in cask, keg and cans but are only one-off brews at present, so drink them if you see them.
Martin Butler<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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