The future is uncertain for two BrewDog pubs in Australia following the sale of the company’s UK brewing operations and brand to US beverage and medical cannabis company Tilray.
Tilray acquired the UK operations in a £33 million deal after the company entered administration last month, with negotiations still continuing on a deal on Brewdog’s assets in the United States and Australia.
The sale has resulted in the loss of 484 jobs in the UK, with 38 bars closed. Administrators said no equity holders – including those who invested in the brewer’s Equity for Punks scheme – would see any returns from the deal.
There are five BrewDog bars in Australia at Murarrie and Fortitude Valley in Brisbane, Pentridge in Melbourne, South Eveleigh in Sydney, and West Perth in Perth .
The BrewDog bars in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne are independently operated by Australian Venue Co, with a spokesperson for Australian Venue Co telling nine.com.au the closures and redundancies in the UK will not affect its venues.
“BrewDog South Eveleigh in Sydney, BrewDog Perth and BrewDog Pentridge in Melbourne will continue to operate as normal and team members will remain in their current roles,” the spokesperson said.
The Scottish craft brewery opened its first Australian brewery in Brisbane in 2019, on the banks of the Brisbane River. Australian Venue Co announced in 2022 that it would open multiple BrewDog bars, with CEO Paul Waterson describing the partnership as a :gamechanger for the Australian hospitality industry”.
The multinational brewery and pub chain was founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie and is famous for pioneering the UK craft beer movement with its flagship Punk IPA.