Scottish craft beer company BrewDog will close 10 of its bars across the UK this Saturday, affecting around 100 workers.
The closures span from Scotland to London, with employees receiving just three days' advance warning about the impending job losses.
The company said the move follows a review of its bar business and is part of a wider strategy to focus on more sustainable locations.
It said the decision was not just about current market conditions, but that these bars had not been able to stay profitable.
Although a formal redundancy consultation will begin, it won’t start until after the bars shut on July 26.
BrewDog has over 100 bars worldwide, including locations in the UK, Europe, the US, Asia, and Australia
They major pub chain said it would try to offer affected staff jobs in other locations, where possible.
The trade union Unite Hospitality criticised the short notice of the closures, calling it unacceptable.
Posting on social media platform X, the union said: "In what universe is THREE DAYS a morally (or legally) acceptable notice period for a proper redundancy consultation?"
Unite's comments reflect wider concerns about how workers are treated in hospitality, where job security can often be low.
The union also questioned whether BrewDog had met its legal obligations on redundancy consultation.
GETTY | BrewDog pub chain closing 10 bars
The closures include BrewDog’s original bar on Gallowgate in Aberdeen, which opened in 2010 and helped launch its bar business. Other Scottish bars closing include Dundee and Sheffield.
In England, bars in Brighton, Oxford, York, and Leeds North Street will shut. London will lose three venues, marking a significant cut in BrewDog’s presence across the country.
The company will shut the following bars:
- Aberdeen Gallowgate
- Brighton
- Camden, London
- Dundee
- Leeds North Street
- Oxford
- Sheffield
- Shepherds Bush, London
- Shoreditch, London
- York
GB News | chief executive James Taylor told staff and shareholders the closures were due to a mix of rising costs, new regulations, and economic pressures
BrewDog’s chief executive James Taylor told staff and shareholders the closures were due to a mix of rising costs, new regulations, and economic pressures. He said some bars were simply too small or poorly located to survive.
Chief executive James Taylor addressed staff and shareholders about the closures through the company's forum, attributing the decision to ongoing sector difficulties.
He cited "rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures" as contributing factors that made these particular venues unviable.
GETTY | 10 locations across the UK are closing
Taylor explained: "Despite our best efforts, it has simply not been possible to find a formula to make these bars viable due to their size, location and other limiting factors." He added that maintaining these sites would strain resources needed for investment in growth areas.
The executive characterised the closures as a strategic move to create a more concentrated and sustainable operation.
He stated: "This is not a decision we've taken lightly. But as we evolve BrewDog into a more focused and sustainable business, we've had to be honest about where we are - and where we're heading."
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