Ten locations of a popular pub chain will close their doors for good as soon as Friday, it’s been announced.
Brewdog said they were unable to ‘find a formula’ to make the bars viable due to multiple ‘limiting factors’.
CEO James Taylor said: ‘Keeping them open would put pressure on the wider business, making it harder to invest where we know we can grow.
‘This decision is not simply a response to the challenging UK hospitality market but a proactive decision to redefine the bar division’s focus.
‘This is not a decision we’ve taken lightly. But as we evolve BrewDog into a more focused and sustainable business, we’ve had to be honest about where we are — and where we’re heading.’
From Brighton to Dundee, the locations will see more than 100 staff members laid off in the process, with as little as three days’ notice.
The locations affected include:
- Shepherd’s Bush (London)
- Camden (London)
- Shoreditch (London)
- Brighton
- Dundee
- Leeds North Street
- Oxford
- Sheffield
- York
It’s the latest blow to the so-called ‘punk’ brewer after years of allegations of horrible working environments and other closures.
In 2021, some 61 ex-members of staff signed a document alleging a ‘culture of fear’ and a further 45 were said to support its aims but did not want to include their names for fear of reprisals.
The letter alleged the company was ‘built on a cult of personality’ and used ‘lies, hypocrisy and deceit’ as tools, including exaggerating claims made as part of its infamous PR campaigns.
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They said staff had been left with mental health issues, and bosses did little to address the problems within the business.
BrewDog co-founder James Watt apologised and promised to take action in light of the revelations, later resigning in May 2024.
Mr Watt was singled out for criticism by his former employee,s who accused him of being the driver of the ‘toxic’ attitudes among senior members of staff.
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