BrewDog has announced the closure of ten of its bars, with one venue set to shut its doors this Friday. The brewery and craft beer company from Scotland disclosed that their Camden location will cease operations on Friday, while other bars, including the flagship venue in Aberdeen, will follow suit starting this Saturday.
In response to the closures, BrewDog has initiated a consultation process with the affected staff, which is expected to last at least 14 days. The company’s spokesperson mentioned that efforts will be made to transfer many of the impacted employees to other bar locations.
CEO James Taylor communicated to all staff members that the decision to close these venues was made after careful consideration due to their lack of profitability. He emphasized that maintaining these bars would strain the overall business and hinder investments in areas with growth potential. Taylor stressed that this move is part of a strategic shift to focus the bar division more effectively.
A spokesperson for BrewDog stated that the decision to close the bars was made after a review aimed at refining the company’s strategy and consolidating its bar presence. Despite the team’s hard work, the bars could not achieve commercial viability amidst challenges such as rising costs, regulatory changes, and economic pressures.
Unite Hospitality criticized the short notice given to employees about the closures, expressing concern about the inadequate time for proper redundancy consultations for affected workers.
The company remains dedicated to its bars, aiming for long-term profitability and growth while striving to support impacted employees through redeployment and assistance during this transition phase. BrewDog continues to express optimism about future opportunities in the industry.