51°28′2″N 1°12′17″W / 51.46722°N 1.20472°W
 | |
| Industry | Brewing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founders | Dave and Helen Maggs |
| Headquarters | Yattendon, Berkshire , England |
| Products | Beer |
| Parent | Yattendon Group |
| Website | renegadebrewery |
Renegade Brewery is a brewery in Yattendon, Berkshire, England. Founded in 1995 as the West Berkshire Brewery by husband and wife Dave and Helen Maggs, the brewery began in a brickworks shed in Frilsham.[1] The company has received a number of SIBA and CAMRA local beer festival awards.[2][3]
Having entered administration in 2021, the brewery was acquired by the Yattendon Group and was renamed the Renegade Brewery.
History
editWest Berkshire Brewery was founded in the summer of 1995 in a dilapidated building behind the Pot Kiln in Frilsham. Within the first year of operations, the brewery won their first award.[4]
By 2000, the business had outgrown the original site and so opened a second unit in Yattendon, thus increasing capacity to 25 barrels per week. Further growth meant that in 2006 more fermenters were installed, increasing capacity to 80 barrels per week.
In 2005, the brewery acquired their first pub, the Rising Sun at Stockcross. In 2007, the pub won West Berkshire CAMRA's pub of the year award.[5] The same year, the Frilsham plant ceased operations, and the brewery operated solely from Yattendon.
In 2013, the brewery appointed David Bruce, founder of the Firkin pub chain, as director.[6] and is chairman of the company.[7] In 2017, the brewery opened a purpose-built facility with shop, bar, and restaurant.[8]
In 2021, allegations of workplace bullying and sexual harassment were made against the brewery by anonymous current and former employees.[9] Following an internal review, the managing director was removed from their post.[10] On 23 December 2021, the brewery entered administration[10][11] and it was announced the following week that it had been purchased by the local Yattendon Group.[12] In 2022, the brewery rebranded itself as Renegade Brewery,[13] and Ian Rogers taking over as the new managing director.[14]
References
edit- ^ "The West Berkshire Brewery Company Ltd". quaffale.org.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2009.
- ^ "Beer Awards". West Berkshire Brewery. Archived from the original on 1 June 2017. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ^ "Newbury Today | Gold and silver for local breweries". Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
- ^ Schultz, Makisha (5 June 2023). "Renegade Brewery Blog Post". BFBi. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Newbury Today | Stockcross pub clinches award". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
- ^ "THE WEST BERKSHIRE BREWERY PLC – Officers". Companies House. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ^ "Meet the Team". West Berkshire Brewery. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ^ Beeson, James (22 November 2017). "West Berkshire Brewery opens new £6m facility". morningadvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ Walsh, Dominic (23 August 2021). "West Berkshire Brewery accused of bullying and sex harassment". The Times. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ a b Walsh, Dominic (29 November 2021). "Bullying row West Berkshire Brewery faces collapse into administration". The Times. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ "THE WEST BERKSHIRE BREWERY PLC | Appointment of Administrators | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk. The Gazette. 24 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ Bosley, Sarah (29 December 2021). "New owner for West Berkshire Brewery". Newbury Today. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ Carter Keall, Max (13 October 2022). "Rebrand celebrated with new beers". Newbury Today. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
- ^ Blackshaw, Cameron (22 December 2022). "Renegade Brewery's new managing director speaks about the company's evolution and future". Newbury Today. Retrieved 19 June 2023.