Hydes to close Queens Brewery and withdraw from free trade

The company, which is led by managing director Chris Hopkins, also announced that it had decided to withdraw from supplying the free trade market and that it had agreed to sell its free trade interests to local rival Daniel Thwaites.

Hydes said that it had identified a number of suitable premises within the locality that meet its needs for the future and that it hoped to move into a new facility by the end of this year.

It said that the move from the Grade II-Listed Queens Brewery, which employs 50 staff, to a new facility would involve the potential loss of a number of jobs.

However, it said that the move to a new state-of-the-art brewery would enable the group to protect the interests of a number of skilled staff.

This sale of free trade interest will complete on 16 January and will see Hydes free trade sales team and some free trade support staff transfer to Thwaites as part of this deal.

Thwaites will brew some of the Hydes brands under license for a period following completion of the free trade deal.