Sammie Ellard-King
I’m Sammie, a money expert and business owner passionate about helping you take control of your wallet. My mission with Up the Gains is to create a safe space to help improve your finances, cut your costs and make you feel good while doing it.
BrewDog has been sold to US brewer and cannabis group Tilray for £33 million – but 38 bars not included in the deal will close immediately with 484 jobs lost.
Tilray, which owns a raft of craft breweries in the US, bought BrewDog’s UK brewing operation and 11 of its pub venues across the UK and Ireland. This will preserve 733 jobs.
But 38 bars were excluded from the deal. Administrators said these will close “with immediate effect,” resulting in 484 redundancies.
Meanwhile, BrewDog’s 18 franchise bars in the UK and internationally will continue to operate.
What's Included in the Deal?
The Tilray deal includes:
- BrewDog’s brewery in Ellon, Aberdeenshire
- The Hop Hub national distribution centre in Motherwell, Lanarkshire
- 11 bars across the UK and Ireland
- 733 jobs that will transfer to Tilray
Irwin D Simon, chairman and chief executive of Tilray Brands, said: “BrewDog is one of the most iconic, mission-driven craft beer brands in the UK. As we begin a new chapter for this great brand, our priority is to refocus BrewDog on the craft beer excellence that made it beloved in the first place.”
More news:
What Happened to James Watt's Buyback Bid?
The buyout comes after a last-ditch attempt from BrewDog founder James Watt to rescue the brand fell through.
Watt, who calls himself the “world’s worst boss” and is married to Made in Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo, had been preparing to pile £10 million of his own money into an attempt to buy back the Scottish company.
Sources close to the deal said the bid, which was announced when the brewery was put on the market last month, had fallen through.
Watt stepped down as BrewDog CEO in May 2024 following allegations about the work culture and his behaviour in the role, but retains a 22% stake in the business.
What About the 220,000 Investors?
Over 220,000 people who invested in BrewDog through the “Equity for Punks” scheme could lose out from the sale.
The scheme enabled beer lovers to own a tiny slice of the brewery and enjoy discounts and other perks. The company raised around £75 million overall from the sale of shares to customers between 2009 and 2021.
The average investor put in about £400.
With the £33 million sale price, many of these shareholders are likely to get little or nothing back.
Why Was BrewDog Being Sold?
BrewDog has been struggling financially for years. Last year, the company lost £37 million on turnover of £357 million.
The company announced job cuts in October 2025 and closed 10 bars earlier in the year, including its flagship pub in Aberdeen.
Last month, it halted production of gin and vodka brands at its distillery in Ellon, Aberdeenshire.
BrewDog was founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie, who frequently courted controversy with the brand’s marketing campaigns.
In 2017, TSG Consumer Partners took a 21% stake in BrewDog in a deal which valued the company at $1 billion. Since then, BrewDog has continued to face mounting losses.
Martin Dickie left the company last year, saying he took the decision for personal reasons.
Full List of 38 Bars Closing
England and Wales:
- Basingstoke, Hampshire
- Bath, Somerset
- Bournemouth, Dorset
- Bristol – Baldwin Street
- Bristol – Harbourside
- Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
- Cardiff, Wales
- Carlisle, Cumbria
- Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
- Exeter, Devon
- London – Soho
- London – Camden Road
- London – Chancery Lane
- London – Clerkenwell
- London – Ealing
- London – Hammersmith
- London – Seething Lane
- London – Tower Bridge
- London – Wandsworth
- Liverpool, Merseyside
- Manchester – DogHouse Manchester
- Manchester – Manchester Outpost
- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
- Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
- Norwich, Norfolk
- Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
- Plymouth, Devon
- Reading, Berkshire
- Southampton, Hampshire
Scotland:
- Aberdeen – Castlegate
- Aberdeen – Union Square
- Edinburgh – Cowgate
- Glasgow – Merchant City
- Glasgow – Argyle Street
- Inverurie
- Perth
- St Andrews
- Stirling
Full List of 11 Bars Saved in Tilray Deal
England:
- Birmingham, West Midlands
- London – Canary Wharf
- London – Paddington
- London – Seven Dials
- London – Tower Hill
- London – Waterloo
- Manchester – Peter Street
Scotland:
- Ellon – DogTap
- Edinburgh – DogHouse Edinburgh
- Edinburgh – Lothian Road
Ireland:
- Dublin
What Happens Next?
BrewDog temporarily shut all 60 of its UK branches on Monday to allow staff to attend meetings about the sale and comply with licensing issues.
Chief executive James Taylor told staff in an email: “We appreciate this is an unsettling time for everyone, and we want to ensure that all colleagues have the opportunity to hear directly from us about what happens next.”
Food and beer deliveries, as well as customer bookings, were cancelled for the day.
The 733 employees whose jobs are being saved will transfer to Tilray. The 484 staff at the 38 closing bars will lose their jobs.
For the 220,000 “Equity for Punks” investors, this is likely the end of the road for any hope of getting a return on their investment.
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