New brewery, jobs and bars with Sadler's investment

The new brewery at Sadler's in Lye is due to be up and running by the end of January.

Managing director Chris Sadler has also revealed plans for the growing business to open a new series of bars across the Black Country.

Sadler's will keep the existing brewery at its base at Conyers Trading Estate, off Station Drive, for producing experimental ranges of its beers.

Mr Sadler said the major investment would also involve adding a new speakeasy room, due to open later this month, and viewing gallery.

"The new brewery will quadruple production. We will be able to produce up to 1,000 brewers' barrels a week, equivalent to about 300,000 pints of beer,"c he explained.

The investment has been driven by growing demand for the range of ales produced by Sadler's, particularly its Peaky Blinders beers which were inspired by the hit BBC television series set in Birmingham.

Last week the brewery was featured in the Black Country manufacturing showcase organised by Dudley North MP Ian Austin and the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership at the Houses of Parliament.

Mr Sadler said that Sadler's was achieving increasing sales in cask, keg, can and bottled lines with its bottled beers stocked by chains like Aldi.

He said that the next step in Sadler's growth would be to open a few more bars in the Black Country area.

It already has the Windsor Castle in Lye, the brewhouse bar at the brewery and a pub in Southampton.

"We are looking at four sites at the moment and are looking to open up to six over the next year or so.

"The new bars will have a modern twist with smoked barbecue food, real ale and craft beer. It will be a 100 per cent Sadler's brand," explained Mr Sadler.

This month will also see Sadler's release its own Peaky Blinders range of spirits including whisky, gin and rum.

"You couldn't find a more exciting brewery now than us. There is a huge amount of investment going on and we have already created seven to eight new jobs with the new brewery and expansion of deliveries.

"The new bars will be creating jobs as well when they open," added Mr Sadler.

The wave of investment has come after Halewood Wines & Spiritstook a majority stake in the brewery earlier this year.

The deal has also seen Sadler’s getting marketing support from the Huyton-headquartered drinks producer.