BrewDog has announced the closure of ten of its bars across the UK, including its flagship location in Aberdeen, following a review of its business operations.
The closures will affect venues in Aberdeen, Brighton, Camden, Dundee, Leeds North Street, Oxford, Sheffield, Shepherd’s Bush, Shoreditch and York.
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The exact number of jobs impacted remains unclear. BrewDog plans to conduct one-to-one meetings with staff at risk of redundancy and aims to find alternative roles within the company.
In a communication to staff, BrewDog chief executive James Taylor attributed the closures to ongoing challenges in the UK hospitality sector, including “rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures,” as well as a strategic shift in the brand’s focus.
Taylor noted: “As part of this strategic review, we have made the difficult decision to close ten bars. This includes some venues that are woven into our history, including Aberdeen, which was our first-ever bar, and Camden, the first bar we opened in London.”
He further explained that maintaining these venues would place undue pressure on the wider business, complicating investments in areas where growth is more feasible.
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By GlobalData“Following much consideration, we have sadly concluded that there is no realistic prospect of making these venues commercially viable,” he said.
BrewDog is transitioning towards becoming an “experience-led” brand, with plans to differentiate its bars into smaller community venues and larger destination hubs, similar to its site in London’s Waterloo, which opened in August 2022.
The company has initiated a consultation process for affected staff that will last a minimum of 14 days.
However, the trade union Unite has claimed that employees were given only three days’ notice regarding the closures.
A BrewDog spokesperson commented: “We are working hard to minimise the impact on our people, and we expect to redeploy many affected team members across the BrewDog network.
“For those leaving the business, we’re providing as much support as possible during this transition.”
BrewDog, founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie, has gained recognition for its bold marketing strategies and has faced scrutiny over its workplace culture in recent years.
