Brewdog has permanently shut its Hawkes cidery and taproom in London.
Production of Hawkes’ range of ciders has been moved to BrewDog’s main brewery in Ellon, Scotland.
In a statement made to BrewDog’s “equity punk” investors, shared with The Grocer, the craft brewer said “rampant inflation, soaring utilities costs and relentless cost of living pressures” had contributed to the closure of Hawkes’ Bermondsey taproom and production site.
“As with all UK businesses in recent times, Hawkes has been battling rampant inflation, soaring utilities costs and relentless cost of living pressures,” BrewDog said. “Unfortunately, the slowdown in trade on the Bermondsey beer mile, combined with exorbitant rent increases, has meant we have had to permanently close the much-loved Hawkes taproom.”
Despite the move, the brand remained “steadfastly part of the BrewDog family” and would continue to be available in its bars, across the on-trade and online, the brewer claimed.
“We hope to relaunch a cider-focused venue at another location in the city in the future, but in the meantime, you can find it in all the usual places,” it added.
Hawkes was founded in 2013 by Simon Wright and was sold to BrewDog for an undisclosed sum in 2018.
Wright exited BrewDog in October 2020. A month later, BrewDog co-founder and CEO James Watt admitted he had “ripped the soul” out of the cider business by moving production to Scotland.
Cider production was subsequently moved back to Bermondsey.
Hawkes ciders were last available in Asda in April 2021, and on Ocado in October 2023, according to Assosia data.
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