Daniel Thwaites pinpoints new brewery and HQ site

By Rod Addy

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Brewing Beer

Daniel Thwaites brands include Wainwright cask and bottled beer
Daniel Thwaites brands include Wainwright cask and bottled beer
Daniel Thwaites has safeguarded 320 jobs by identifying a site for its new brewery and headquarters close to its existing Blackburn facility, home to its activities for more than 200 years.

The announcement is the culmination of more than two years of searching. The company is seeking to secure planning consent in the coming months and aims to start building at the Sykes Holt, Mellor Brook location early next year.

Thwaites ceo Richard Bailey said completion of the purchase would take six months, to allow the current owner to vacate the premises.

In July 2012, the firm revealed plans to restructure its operations, which it claimed at the time would lead to the loss of 16 jobs​.

‘Stay close to Blackburn’

The new site will be located on the A59, at the foot of the Ribble Valley. “It has always been hugely important to us that we stay close to Blackburn, which has been our home for over 200 years, and we have been very aware that we would like to safeguard jobs in the area,”​ said Bailey.

“I am very pleased that we have been able to find a site that is only a few miles away, where we will continue to employ over 200 people in our head office across our brewery, pubs, inns and hotels. Our distribution team of 120 people will be staying where they are at our existing depot in Blackburn for the foreseeable future.

“Our investment in the new brewery will allow us to brew a full range of our cask, seasonal and craft ales and will allow our brewers and team to be completely focused on the quality and consistency of our beers.”

‘New beers’

Thwaites, which produces beers such as Lancaster Bomber and Wainwright, would invest in technology at the new site that would enable it to develop new beers, he added.

“We remain committed to safeguarding our brewing heritage, and newer, more efficient and more flexible equipment will help our team to continue to brew our old friends, but also to develop new and interesting beers.”

Steve Magnall, md of Thwaites Beer, called the development “the next chapter in our story”​.

Thwaites is seeking partners to help it redevelop the existing headquarters as part of the continuing redevelopment of Blackburn town centre.

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