The now Bakewell-based business was established in 2005 by Webster and Jim Harrison in outbuildings at Thornbridge Hall country house near the village of Great Longstone in the Derbyshire Dales.
It is famed for its 5.9% ABV Jaipur IPA and operating a number of pubs, including the Market Cat, in York; the Bankers Cat, in Leeds; and the Colmore, in Birmingham.
There are plans to open the Wild Swan in London, plus two more pubs in 2025.
We are now living in an age where we are able to drink the finest beer we have ever created in this country
Simon Webster
Webster explains: “Formed in 2005, Thornbridge is generally recognised as being the major influence in the new wave of brewers in England.
“Thornbridge is most famous for the multi-award winning beer Jaipur IPA, which is brewed in cask, keg, bottle and can, and accounts for around 40% of the brewery’s production.”
Webster has overseen Thornbridge grow from a start up to now brewing around 10m pints per year and employing more than 250 people in brewing and the pub estate.
Indeed, his proudest moment is getting to the business to where it is today in a world that has changed beyond recognition from the brewing and bar world it entered in 2005.
“The changes we have seen is that we are now living in an age where we are able to drink the finest beer we have ever created in this country and I’m proud that we have played a part in that,” he states.
His advice to others is to surround yourself with good people. He adds: “I was in a senior management meeting recently and when I was asked by the host what was my role – I answered by saying employing great people who make me look better than I probably am.
“As ever, I think drive and ambition are key and, personally, I drive myself by coming out of a comfort zone and trying to challenge myself and others.”
He admits he does do anything intentionally in his personal life to improve his leadership skills but is always happy to be surrounded by people and to encourage and engage with them – and will do so both within and outside the workplace.
Surrounded by good people
This creates a position where he never feels lonely.
“I like to build teams and work among people,” Webster states. “I appreciate the buck stops with me and that’s how I’m judged but I enjoy that because I know I am surrounded by good people with great skills.”
His advice continues too and says for any smaller pub group, get a small brewery to sell your beer and for a small brewery business, they should buy a pub to sell their beer!
He adds: “I’ve always tried to be the weakest part of the chain that you operate in. As we have grown that’s become almost impossible but having a modicum of control over your own destiny is always good.”
Webster believes the top three qualities a good leader should have are to be able to engage, embrace and then elevate your staff.
“Bringing people with you has always been key to my leadership,” he says. “It’s a lonely journey if you don’t do so but by bringing others with you, it’s great to share in the glory but also there can be ‘company’ in any failure.”
Serendipity and luck played a huge part in what we were able to achieve
Simon Webster
In 2009, Thornbridge built a state-of-the-art brewery at Riverside, Bakewell, to meet demand and the business to develop its range of beers.
Brewing still takes place today on the original kit, which has been moved to near the taproom at Riverside, meaning experimentation with new brews is possible along with creating bespoke small-batch brews, collaborations and assisting the main brewery.
Having beers that are available in 35 countries worldwide is a source of pride and Webster explains the highlights of his career so far.
“There have been so many and I’m lucky to still be enjoying some of them,” he reveals. “It’s coming up to 20 years since we won our first award for Jaipur and we continue to win awards up to the present day.
“If I had to pick a highlight it would be the fabulous people I’ve met along the way in this incredible business – some of them have become good friends and there’s no business like the hospitality business.”
The first lockdown was a low point for Webster, who was “really worried about what would happen”.
Serendipity and luck
He explains: “Around a half of our business was supplying pubs, bars and restaurants, and when that closed down, we had a real concern.
“Fortunately, we were able to pivot the brewery and really worked on small pack and we had some good partners who bought lots and lots of our beer and what began as a low point became a real positive for the business and showed how resilient we could be.
“As ever, serendipity and luck played a huge part in what we were able to achieve.”
His work life and family life has been blessed with good fortune too.
He says: “I’ve been very lucky in that my wife was part of the team when we launched the brewery so we have always worked closely and enjoyed the blurring of work and home life.
I’m very comfortable about where we sit as a brewery and pub estate but, quite obviously, things have not always gone right
Simon Webster
“I’ve been very proud to welcome my son into the brewery at times too as he begins to forge his path as he nears the end of his education.”
Pressure comes in the form of ‘not knowing what is happening’ for Webster along with running out of time. He adds: “I’m always happy to be involved in conversations and, even when I’m way on holiday, I’m generally aware of what is happening in the business and that suits me fine.
“I wouldn’t say anything has surprised me [as a CEO] because it’s really been an organic growth in the role.
“When Jim [Harrison] and I started the brewery, I was effectively CEO of just myself and a couple of brewers back then but as we’ve grown to the size we are, I’m constantly aware of trying to communicate with as many of our guys as possible and try and keep them aware of our vision.”
But would Webster change anything if given the chance to do so? He says: “You know, I don’t think I would. I’m very comfortable about where we sit as a brewery and pub estate but, quite obviously, things have not always gone right.
“However, those things have helped shape us and put us where we are now, which is a great place to attack the next 20 years.
“In that respect, I have no regrets at all, I have often said that as a pioneer in craft beer, we were not following a worn path so there were no footsteps to follow – at each juncture we were never sure which way to turn but I’m confident the path we have taken has served us right.”
- To see what Simon Webster has to say on opening new sites and the economic climate, click here.
