BrewDog, the well-known Scottish craft beer company, is set to close 10 of its bars across the UK. This includes its flagship pub in Aberdeen, as well as locations in Leeds, Sheffield, London (Camden, Shoreditch, Shepherd’s Bush), Brighton, Dundee, Oxford, and York. The closures are scheduled to take place on July 26, 2025.
The company described the decision as a “rationalisation” and part of a broader restructuring of its bar estate. BrewDong says that despite the hard work of their teams, it was not possible to keep these bars commercially viable. They cited persistent industry challenges, including rising costs and difficult economic conditions, which are affecting the UK hospitality sector.
James Taylor, BrewDog’s chief executive, noted in a letter to staff that the closures are designed to reposition the bar portfolio for long-term, profitable growth. BrewDog emphasised that this is a proactive and strategic decision rather than a simple reaction to the current thought market environment. They plan to focus future investment and energy on bars that are working well, aiming to build a sustainable business model.
The company also outlined a new strategy for its bar operations. They intend to focus on two types of venues: “Destination Hubs,” which are large, flagship sites in major cities like London, Berlin, and Las Vegas, and “Community Bars,” which are smaller, locally connected spaces. The bars being closed did not align with this new strategy due to their size or location constraints.
BrewDog assured that they will try to lessen the impact on employees. The company expects to redeploy many staff members to other parts of BrewDog’s network. For those who will leave the business, support will be provided during the transition. However, the decision puts up to 100 jobs at risk across the 10 closing sites.
The trade union Unite has strongly criticised BrewDog’s handling of the closures. Unite reported that some staff were given less than four days’ notice about their workplaces shutting, which they called “morally unacceptable” and potentially illegal.
The union is helping affected workers contest the layoffs and encouraging them to seek legal advice. Unite’s national lead for hospitality voiced concern about the company’s disregard for employee well-being and employment laws.
BrewDog’s decision marks a significant moment for the brewery, which has experienced rapid growth and was once valued at nearly 2 billion euros. Some of the bars closing, including the first-ever bar in Aberdeen and the Camden site, have been fundamental to BrewDog’s identity and history.
Despite closures, BrewDog said it remains “passionate and firmly committed” to its bars overall and is optimistic about the future. The company believes these changes will help them focus on innovation, quality, and brand identity as they evolve their business in a tough hospitality market.
