Cameron's still expanding

Hartlepool brewery Cameron's is set to keep expanding in the face of the credit crunch, although the company admits to scaling back its ambitious plans.

Initially the company had planned to increase its pub estate from 75 to 200 by the end of 2009, but this figure has been modified to 150. It hopes to boost its pub estate turnover from £15m this year to £25m in 2009.

The firm said it will focus on venues with multiple income streams. Marketing manager Yousef Doubooni said: "The style of outlets we're looking at will offer our tenants more possibilities to create sustainable businesses, as well as providing something for companies, families and guests in the north-east."

Doubooni added: "Gaining long-term brewing contracts, coupled with the sale of our wholesale business to Coors, has given us the financial resources to upgrade our brewing facilities in Hartlepool and invest in expanding our retail pub estate."

He said the company will continue to focus its new venues in the north of England, where its distribution is already established.

It has also invested £4m on eight new brewing vessels, which will increase its annual contract-brewing capacity from 375,000 barrels to around 800,000.

Cameron's has 66 tenanted and nine managed outlets, and hopes to grow its premium bar and restaurant range Aspire.

The brewery has just completed a £1m refurbishment of the Windmill, in Dalton Piercy, Hartlepool.

The venue has 12 en-suite letting rooms, a carvery restaurant, a Costa Coffee lounge, a bar and conference and meeting facilities. It is also registered to hold weddings and civil ceremonies.