Exmoor Ales, one of Britain’s longest-running breweries, has announced it will close its factory in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, after more than four decades of operations. The company, which has been producing beer for pubs since 1979, will relocate its brewing production to the Hogs Back Brewery in Surrey, approximately 120 miles away.
Jonathan Price, managing director of Exmoor Ales, attributed the closure to a combination of challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, high inflation, and rising taxes. He explained that these factors necessitated a restructuring of the business, which includes shutting down the Wiveliscombe factory.
Despite the closure, Price emphasized that the company’s loyal customer base and its 40 years of operations in the town have driven efforts to secure a future for the brand. The company will continue selling its beers under the Exmoor Ales name, using the same recipes and yeast at the new Surrey location. National distribution will be handled by the Guildford-based Hogs Back Brewery, while Wiveliscombe will remain the hub for local sales.
The move, however, will result in the loss of four local jobs. The brewery’s shop on Old Brewery Road, known for selling Exmoor Ales’ popular beers such as Gold, Stag, Beast, and Fox, will remain open.
The decision to relocate comes amid broader struggles for small independent breweries in the UK. Price noted that large international brewers now dominate 92% of the UK beer market, making it increasingly difficult for smaller, local producers to compete. In the past year alone, the number of breweries in Britain fell by 100, according to the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA), reflecting the pressures on the industry.
Wiveliscombe, a small town with a population of around 2,900, was once a thriving brewery hub. Exmoor Ales’ closure follows the shutdown of Nuttycombe Brewery this year and Cotleigh Brewery in 2021, leaving Black Bear Brewery as one of the few remaining breweries in the area.
Despite the move, Price reassured supporters that this did not mark the end for Exmoor Ales. He described the transition to Surrey as a partnership with Hogs Back Brewery, not a full takeover, and suggested that while brewing in Wiveliscombe might scale down in the future, the brewery’s legacy could continue in some form.
Exmoor Ales, originally founded as the Golden Hill Brewery by Jim Laker in 1979, has long been a recognizable name in the town, with its iconic Victorian tower and chimney a local landmark. Price took over the company in 2006 and has since overseen its expansion.
The closure has been met with concern by local beer enthusiasts, with some expressing regret over the loss of yet another small brewery to corporate competition. Social media reactions reflect the sentiment, with one user lamenting, “Another brewery bites the dust. Big Beer is really starting to flex its muscles,” while another called Exmoor Ales a “lovely brewery with some cracking beers.”
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