US firm plans bid for Walsall's Highgate Brewery after collapse
Jul 29 2010 by Graeme Brown, Birmingham Post
One of the top craft brewers in the USA could be set to buy the historic Highgate Brewery in Walsall – after seeing the brewery’s details on Facebook.
The Stone Brewing Company, based in Escondido, California, is thought to be lining up a bid for the listed building and the brewing equipment from the 112-year-old Black Country brewery, which has been up for sale since the previous brewers collapsed earlier in the summer.
Stone is one of the biggest names in the American craft brewing scene which has expanded on a massive scale in the last decade. Earlier this year it announced it was looking to acquire a European brewery to make a range of beers for the European market.
It first heard about Highgate through the “Save Highgate Brewery” group, a community set up on the social networking site Facebook. Stone left a message on the Facebook page saying they were interested in the site and asking organisers to pass on their details.
The Highgate brewery has been silent since the company, which makes famous beers like the Highgate and Davenports range, went into administration in June with the loss of 22 jobs. The site is owned by Smethwick pub group Empire Star.
Steve Orford, the chairman of Friends of Highgate Brewery, said he had received an email from the brewery saying they were interested.
He added: “They are looking for a facility, not the brands.Europe is a big place so they may not choose Highgate but it’s a tentative hope.”
Empire Star spokesman Ian Robinson confirmed the group had had an approach, saying: “We have received an enquiry via a third party stating that an American brewer has shown a keen interest in the brewery and at present we are supplying them with full specifications of the site and its equipment.
"We are not able to confirm the name of the interested party at this stage, as this has not been disclosed to us, but news will be released once we have a firm indication that the sale is likely to go ahead.”
He denied rumours the rights to brew Highgate and Davenports ales had been sold on, saying the company was still looking for a buyer.
Friends of Highgate Brewery was set up to campaign for the preservation of the listed brewery and the famous local ales. It has more than 1,700 members.
