Breal Capital Acquires London’s Brew by Numbers: A Move to Rescue a Pioneering Brewery
London’s Brew by Numbers, a renowned microbrewery, has been acquired by Breal Capital in a strategic move to avert administration.
In May, there were hints of a final-stage restructuring deal from the craft brewery. However, by June 14th, Finbarr O’Connell and Colin Hardman from Evelyn Partners were named joint administrators. They continued to operate the brewery and initiated the process to sell the business.
Founded in 2011, Brew By Numbers opened its original brewery and taproom in Enid Street, in the heart of London’s ‘Bermondsey Beer Mile.’ By 2021, they had expanded to a new production site in Morden Wharf, Greenwich, adding a 400-person capacity taproom on the Thames’ banks. Unfortunately, the brewery fell into hard times soon after.
Colin Hardman, an Evelyn Partners partner and a joint administrator, expressed his concerns about the industry’s challenges, citing the Pandemic, post-Brexit export complexities, increased costs, reduced spending, and Beer Duty law changes. He noted the closure of many microbreweries and was delighted to rescue the well-loved Brew By Numbers brand, thanking stakeholders for their support.
Breal Capital’s spokesperson shared their excitement about this acquisition, their third in the brewing sector. They praised Brew By Numbers’ unique product range and brand, emphasizing their continued strategy of brewery acquisitions, including previous deals with Black Sheep Brewery and Peckham-based Brick Brewery in 2023.
The taproom at Morden Wharf will continue its regular operations with minimal disruption, and Breal Capital has ensured that all employees’ jobs are secure.
