BrewDog to shut 38 bars with 484 job losses - full list of locations

BrewDog has said it will shut 38 bars with the loss of 484 jobs, despite the Scottish craft brewer being snapped up in a rescue deal by a US firm.

Tilray Brands, which produces medicinal cannabis as well as craft beer in the US, has acquired the BrewDog brand in a £33million deal.

The deal came after BrewDog fell into administration on Monday, in a move which will leave the brand’s crowdfund investors empty handed.

Chief executive James Taylor informed staff by email that the temporary closures were required to address licensing requirements connected to an anticipated transfer of ownership.

Employees across the business have been invited to attend company-wide meetings scheduled throughout Monday.

Food and beer deliveries due to take place have been cancelled and customer reservations have been called off as the company prepares for what it described as an expected change of hands.

Mr Taylor acknowledged the uncertainty facing staff during the process.

He said: "We appreciate this is an unsettling time for everyone, and we want to ensure that all colleagues have the opportunity to hear directly from us about what happens next."

He confirmed that a series of company-wide calls would be organised to provide further updates.

Mr Taylor said: "To enable everyone to attend, and to comply with licensing issues arising from an anticipated change of ownership, we have taken the decision that none of our bars will open tomorrow (Monday). All sites will remain closed for the day."

Tilray Brand bought a number of BrewDog assets including the global brand and related intellectual property, its UK brewing operation and 11 of its pub venues across the UK and Ireland.

But administrators confirmed this would therefore result in the closure of most of BrewDog’s bars, with 38 now closing and 484 workers set to lose their jobs.

BrewDog’s 18 franchise bars in the UK and internationally will continue to operate.

The Tilray deal will see it take control of BrewDog facilities including its brewery in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, and The Hop Hub, a national distribution centre in Motherwell, Lanarkshire.

It will also preserve 733 jobs in the UK, where employees will transfer to Tilray.

The company said food and beer deliveries had been cancelled alongside all customer bookings for the day of closure.

BrewDog was founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie in Aberdeenshire, positioning itself as a challenger brand within the British brewing industry.

The business expanded rapidly and developed into a global operation, with brewing facilities established in the United States, Australia and Germany.

Approximately 1,400 employees are currently understood to work across the organisation.

Mr Watt previously stepped down as chief executive and moved into a newly created role titled captain and co-founder.

His departure followed a BBC documentary examining allegations regarding his conduct, which resulted in a complaint to Ofcom that was later dismissed.

Mr Dickie left the company last year, citing personal reasons for his departure.

The brewer recorded a £37million loss, leading to workforce reductions across the business in October.

Earlier in 2025, BrewDog announced the permanent closure of 10 UK venues, including its flagship pub in Aberdeen.

Last month, the company halted gin and vodka production at its Ellon distillery in Aberdeenshire, stating that the decision was intended to sharpen its focus on core operations.

In 2024, BrewDog faced criticism after revealing that new employees would no longer receive the real living wage and would instead be paid the statutory minimum wage.

The current sale process follows this period of financial pressure and operational restructuring, with the company’s ownership expected to change once a transaction is completed.

Here is a list of the BrewDog bars to close “with immediate effect”:

England and Wales
Basingstoke, Hampshire
Bath, Somerset
Bournemouth, Dorset
Bristol – Baldwin Street
Bristol – Harbourside
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Cardiff, Wales
Carlisle, Cumbria
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Exeter, Devon
London – Soho
London – Camden Road
London – Chancery Lane
London – Clerkenwell
London – Ealing
London – Hammersmith
London – Seething Lane
London – Tower Bridge
London – Wandsworth
Liverpool, Merseyside
Manchester – DogHouse Manchester
Manchester – Manchester Outpost
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
Norwich, Norfolk
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Plymouth, Devon
Reading, Berkshire
Southampton, Hampshire

Scotland
Aberdeen – Castlegate
Aberdeen – Union Square
Edinburgh – Cowgate
Glasgow – Merchant City
Glasgow – Argyle Street
Inverurie
Perth
St Andrews
Stirling

Here is a list of the BrewDog bars acquired by Tilray:

England
Birmingham, West Midlands
London – Canary Wharf
London – Paddington
London – Seven Dials
London – Tower Hill
London – Waterloo
Manchester – Peter Street

Scotland
Ellon – DogTap
Edinburgh – DogHouse Edinburgh
Edinburgh – Edinburgh Lothian Road

Ireland
Dublin