Peaky Blinder beers to move north after Black Country brewery closure plan
A brewery is planning to close its Black Country base and move production to Cumbria – taking its Peaky Binder beer with it.
Shocked staff at Sadler’s Brewery, based in Lye, Stourbridge, were told of the plans in a meeting.
About 25 people face redundancy, with a 30-day consultation starting on Friday.
The move would mean the Peaky Blinder Pale Ale, which is sold as a Black Country brew, would now be produced 160 miles from the region.
Halewood International, the Liverpool-based drinks manufacturer and distributor, bought a majority stake in Lye-based Sadler’s in 2017.
It became part of Halewood Wines and Spirits along with the Hawkshead Brewery in 2017.
Production of the Sadler’s range of ales would be moved to Hawkshead at Staveley, near Kendal, if the closure is confirmed.
Sadler’s was originally a family business that began in Oldbury in 1861.
Brewing later took place behind the Windsor Castle pub in Lye before being moved to a new brewery on Conyer’s Trading Estate, Station Drive.
The £500,000 Sadler’s Brewhouse and Bar opened in March 2015 and was extended in 2018.
Managing director Chris Sadler is believed to have left the brewery about two months ago.
A member of staff, who did not wish to be named, said: “This has come as a massive shock to us.
"Everything could be shut by January 20.
"A lot of people are going to be searching for jobs.
"All the brewery’s vehicles have been taken away and all newly bought casks and kegs, worth about £300,000, are being removed today.”
Sadler’s launched its Peaky Blinder beer following the success of the BBC TV series Peaky Blinders, which was partly filmed at the Black Country Living Museum.
The brewery has confirmed a consultation had begun on the closure.
