Family buys back brewery
One of Britain’s most famous breweries is returning to family hands after almost two decades of corporate ownership. Four Yorkshire brothers have taken up Scottish & Newcastle’s offer to buy back the 176-year-old Theakston brewery, located in the scenic town of Masham, North Yorkshire. Theakston, which brews the brands Old Peculier and Theakston’s XB was taken over in 1984 by brewer Matthew Brown of Blackburn which was itself then sold to S&N. While most members of the founding dynasty stayed on, Paul Theakston split off in 1992 to set up his own brewery - the appropriately named Black Sheep brewery - across the road from the old family brewery. His brewery has thrived and now employs 90 people.
For several reasons, Theakston’s did not fare well under S&N..
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