Open for business

Titanic effort Craft brewer gets lifeline loan to keep afloat as regulars rally round

A craft beer maker in Stokeon-trent is about to start brewing for the first time since the pandemic struck, despite a complete shutdown of Britain’s pub industry, writes Oliver Gill.

Titanic Brewery has secured £1m in emergency funding from Barclays through the Government’s coronavirus business interruption loan scheme to stay open for business.

The cash injection will allow the firm, run by former Society of Independent Brewers chairman Keith Bott – to produce beer for sale online and in shops.

It will also enable the company to top up pay for staff it has furloughed.

“From the moment pubs across the UK were closed with no notice, we have had to deal with a complete refocusing of our business,” Mr Bott said.

Most of Titanic’s sales came from its own 13 pubs, nearby freehouses and chains such as Mitchells & Butlers and Wetherspoon.

Although pub sales have collapsed to zero, Titanic has addressed changing demand for its beer. Web sales have surged tenfold, Mr Bott said, adding that a phone-andcollect service has proved popular, while the brewery shop is doing brisk trade.

Founded in 1985 by Mr Bott and his brother Dave, Titanic was named in honour of Stoke local Edward Smith, the captain of the ill-fated liner that sank in 1912.

“Having secured our loan, we know we will come out of the other side of this and with our staff having a job. The support of our local drinkers has been essential in retaining some income and we are truly grateful to them, boy am I looking forward to a great pint of cask beer, in a pub, with all of them once it is safe to do so.” Mr Bott was awarded an MBE in 2017 for services to the brewing industry.

Barclays has also agreed to giving Titanic a holiday on capital repayments of existing debts.