The pub industry is a dog-eat-dog world, and Brewdog looks to be having a tough time of it. The “punk” brewer, once valued at as much as £2 billion, is set to close as many as 10 sites across the UK, with pubs expected to stop trading as soon as this Friday, July 25.
Among those closing are two in London, with three in London affected: those in Shepherds Bush, Shoreditch and Camden. The Camden site is particularly noteworthy as it was the first Brewdog to open in London. Other big bars to go include the Aberdeen Brewdog, which was the brewer’s first-ever bar.
A statement from CEO James Taylor on the Shareholders Forum reads: “It has simply not been possible to find a formula to make these bars viable due to their size, location and other limiting factors.
“Keeping them open would put pressure on the wider business, making it harder to invest where we know we can grow.
“This decision is not simply a response to the challenging UK hospitality market but a proactive decision to redefine the bar division's focus.
“This is not a decision we've taken lightly. But 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.”
Writing to staff, Taylor said: “To everyone who worked in these bars, and every customer who supported them — thank you.
“These bars helped make BrewDog what it is today, and we’re grateful for your support over the years.”
The other six pubs closing are in:
According to a post on X by workers’ union Unite Hospitality, staff have been given as little as three days notice of the changes. Brewdog itself says that affected staff are undergoing an appropriate consultation process, which will last a minimum of a fortnight. “Every effort will be made to redeploy as many members of staff as possible,” Brewdog bosses said in a statement.
Nevertheless, the closures are unlikely to do much for Brewdog’s popularity. The company has in recent years come under increasing scrutiny, facing accusations of poor working conditions, misogyny and transphobia.
In 2022, xo-founder James Watt, who stepped down as CEO in May 2024 after 17 years and now styles himself as the company’s “captain”, was accused of inappropriate behaviour, which he denied. In the same year, the company lost its status as a B Corp, a certificate offering an ethical commitment to the environment, staff, and community.
In 2024 the company faced anger from employees after dropping out of the accredited real living wage scheme and and hiring new staff of the legal minimum instead of freezing pay for bar staff, in a bid to reduce costs.
