Full steam ahead for Titanic Brewery plans
Investment in a new visitor centre is under starter’s orders as Titanic Brewery continues to grow and create jobs in Staffordshire and Derbyshire.
Stoke-on-Trent based Titanic’s longstanding plans to upgrade its Burslem brewery has moved a step closer following a successful year which saw the brewery open its eighth pub.
Keith Bott, Managing Director of Titanic Brewery, said: “Our plans to expand are no secret and we have looked at several options including a new brewery. Through all our considerations, our desire to stay in Burslem has remained constant.
“We can now state that our preferred option is to develop our current site. Planning permission has been granted for a visitor centre at our brewery in Callender Place, Burslem.”
Keith, who is also Chairman of SIBA (the Society of Independent Brewers), said Titanic was part of a growing industry. A new report from SIBA shows local brewers increased their sales by an estimated 7.9 per cent last year to 1.55 million barrels – meaning the nation’s beer lovers drank nearly 33 million more pints of local beer than in 2012.
“As chairman of SIBA, I helped spearhead a campaign which led to the Chancellor ditching the beer duty escalator a year ago and this has clearly helped to bolster a thriving industry,” commented Keith.
“At Titanic Brewery, we opened our eighth pub, the Cheshire Cheese in Buxton in 2013 as we continue to grow.
“Titanic has now re-opened seven pubs since 2007, providing pleasant pubs for local communities and 130 jobs.
“We are committed to providing community pubs which appeal to all ages and act as community hubs. Our pubs hold regular events and are home to organisations such as book clubs and photographic societies.
“We are also committed to helping local producers by sourcing local food from butchers and bakers in the towns and villages where our pubs are based.”
The SIBA Beer Report 2014 revealed that the society’s 723 members brewed 10,000 different beers – including permanent and seasonal brews. They also created 900 new jobs, while 60 per cent made a significant capital investment in their business.
The health of independent brewers in 2014 starkly contrasts with 1975 when the Good Beer Guide listed 87 brewers producing a total of 1,500 beers.
A total of 5,500 people are now directly employed in local brewing.
