Hawkshead Brewery Co
Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley Mill Yard, Staveley, Cumbria LA8 9LR.
Brewing commenced 2002 at Town End Farm, Colthouse, Hawkshead by former BBC radio presenter Alex Brodie.
The 7 barrel plant includes old conditioning tanks from Carlsberg Tetley and was located in a 17th century listed stone barn at the head of Esthwaite Water in the heart of the Lake District.
Alex went on a brewing course at Sunderland University and gained experience at Yates under Graeme Baxter. David Smith advised Alex with the set up and with recipes. experimentation.
Alex still does work for the BBC and two brewers manage the business for him, David Newham and David Buxton.
In 2006 plans were announced to build a new brewery at Staveley and keep the old plant where beers will be produced under the banner Hawshead Organics. This 20 barrel plant opened at Staveley Mill and brewing commenced in May 2006. A beer Hall and Brewery tours were a big part of the plan.
In about 2017, a controlling interest in the company was taken by Liverpool-based Halewood Wines & Spirits. The company acquired Sadlers Ales of Lye, West Midlands in 2017, and later closed that brewery.
Claiming the Staveley site to be unproductive Halewood closed that down in late 2024 and moved production to Flookburgh where Whisky and Crabbies Ginger Beer are produced.
Hawkshead Brewery (Flookburgh), The Brewhouse, Moor Lane, Flookburgh, Cumbria
Flookburgh was opened as a second site for Hawkshead Brewery in Summer 2018. This brewery closed in early 2022 with all production being transferred back to the original site.
Closure announced 2022.
• A Gallery of images from Roger Putnam. Hawkshead Brewery Co - 22 January 2013
The following images were taken on a BHS Visit to Town End Farm in 2005
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Staveley, taken in 2013. Courtesy Paul Gunnell -
Stavely, taken in 2013. Courtesy Paul Gunnell
