Save Highgate Brewery

[Andy Ven]

A local tragedy for small brewing and MILD drinkers in the West Midlands (but in Walsall in particular). I'm very saddened to learn that Highgate Brewery has gone into compulsory liquidation. Highgate brew Highgate Mild and the Davenports Beer at Home range.

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/business/2010/06/15/jobs-go-as-highgate-brewery-is-to-close

To me it's like a town losing league football, it's part of it's identity.

A new Facebook group has been started, called Save Highgate Brewery. It may be a lost hope but if you're on Facebook please sign up to the group as a way of showing that there is enough interest in the product and maybe, just maybe, someone will be encouraged to buy it while it's still in one piece :pray:

[Delboy20]

Sad news indeed but a sign of the times I am afraid. With the amount of pubs closing every week it is a knock on effect that the breweries will suffer.

People just don't go out and visit pubs like they used to for a number of reasons. The main one being money. Supermarkets are constantly reducing prices - especially now with the world cup. 3 cases of 15 for £20. So that is 45 cans for £20. You can't have a good night out on £20 so its easy to see why people stay in.

Lets hope it can be saved - While there is life there is hope !!

Cheers,

Del.

[Conrad]

Link for those on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#%21/group.php?gid=132472633446481).

[Andy Ven]

Cheers Conrad.

In the meantime, 3 bottles of Highgate or Davenports in my local Asda for £4. I'll be doing a tour and stocking up on Highgate MILD and Davenports' Fox's Nob

[Crossste]

Always knew there would be something to make me join Facebook one day.

Great analogy with a football team.

I was over in Thorne a few weeks ago and it was sad to see the old Darley,s brewery which is now some carpet or furniture store.

[Andy Ven]

Always knew there would be something to make me join Facebook one day.

Good stuff! (Don't forget to give the thumbs up to the Pubs Galore page while you're there :whistle: :) )

[arwkrite]

Sad to hear that. Was Highgate not refinanced last year ? I remember some talk about local suppliers not being payed.

[Soup Dragon]

yes, it was refinanced Mr A - a sad day

[Andy Ven]

The Facebook group has been going for just over 48 hours and has grown to 430 members.

We're waiting to hear what the local MPs and the councillors are going to do about it

[arwkrite]

Probably very little Andy. May be they will consent to planning permission for another Supermarket or shopping mall on the site in the future. Lets hope some one with more business sense than the present owners come forward and save Highgate.

[Soup Dragon]

I believe they are brewing again now

[Conrad]

Can't see anything in the Facebook group about it. Does it have any implication towards making the brewery sustainable or is it just a way of trying to pay off a bit of creditor cash?

[Andy Ven]

I believe they are brewing again now
?

What has become clear is that when it was bought out of administration last year, by two property developers, the assets were transferred to different companies. Smethwick-based Global Star own the brewery and brewing equipment, an affiliated company called Empire Star own the brand and recipes. Highgate and Davenports Ltd were the brewer and it is that company that went into compulsory liquidation. Empire Star are reported to be in negotiations with other regional brewers.

The concerns are, firstly, that the Grade II listed buildings, dating back to the 19th Century and situated in a very nice part of town, are lost to arson/vandalism/redevelopment. Secondly, that Highgate is brewed somewhere else and therefore would not be the same again.

I've e-mailed the local evening papers to see if they can to find out whether Soup has got the scoop.

[Soup Dragon]

I have told you what i know and where i come by the info, Mr V - it could be tosh, but you never know!!!!

[Andy Ven]

I have told you what i know and where i come by the info, Mr V - it could be tosh, but you never know!!!!

I'd be pleased if it was true if it meant that Highgate was back in production and the Highgate Brewery stayed as a brewery, rather than an apartment block or a pile of rubble

[arwkrite]

I had a nose around the local paper websites but nothing there. I hope it does survive and at its original position.

[Andy Ven]

I had a nose around the local paper websites but nothing there. I hope it does survive and at its original position.

Keep an eye on the Birmingham Post over the next day or two :whistle:

[Conrad]

Was there any news on this?

[Andy Ven]

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/businesslatest/2010/07/02/fears-growing-over-future-of-walsall-s-historic-highgate-brewery-65233-26776313/

Possibly a Liverpool-based brewer to come in but no guarantee it will be at the current site.

Friends of Highgate Brewery have arranged an open public meeting for Wednesday 14th July 2010, 7.30pm till 9.30pm at Walsall Town Hall.

http://www.fohb.org.uk/

[Andy Ven]

Seemingly, no way to run a business. It's no surprise it went under:

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/business/2010/07/01/highgate-brewery-has-800k-tax-bill/

[Conrad]

I suspect it is all too easy to end up in that position once it is all going wrong. I wonder what their other creditor issues are, it always makes me a little uncomfortable when Inland Revenue try to take down a company.

[trainman]

it always makes me a little uncomfortable when Inland Revenue try to take down a company.

Maybe, but any business plan should have allowed for revenue payments, so has that money just been siphoned off?
I'm equally uncomfortable with companies declaring themselves bankrupt, then setting up shop under a slightly different name, with two fingers in the air to erstwhile suppliers who may have to settle for 10%, if lucky, of what was owed. Directors (of the failed firms) should be deemed unfit to run a business and refused trading rights, imo, and it always amazes me that such practises seemingly go ungoverned by any defined form of business regulation. That's right, K Bates/R Noades, we can see you sneaking out the back!

[Conrad]

If there are other creditors, then fair play, someone has to call time. If it is just Inland Revenue I find myself wondering if they should be trying to be a structured about it to try and ensure they get some of their money and a healthy business at the end rather than just killing the business.

[ROBCamra]

Seemingly, no way to run a business. It's no surprise it went under:

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/business/2010/07/01/highgate-brewery-has-800k-tax-bill/

It looks like the creditors have been very sensible given what happened at Cains TWICE. :moremad:

Go into liquidation, creditors get nothing, set up as a new business and then expect to sell to and be supplied by the same people. :muppet::muppet:

The creditors aren't as stupid as the brewery owners think they are.

[Andy Ven]

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/business/2010/07/26/us-firm-eyes-up-highgate-brewery/

There's hope yet...

[Andy Ven]

Just to highlight that next public meeting is scheduled for :

Tuesday 14th September 2010, 7:30pm - 9:30pm at

St Matthew's Centre (Lower Hall), Walsall (next to St Matthew's Church at the top of the hill that looks down on Walsall market)

[Quinno]

I'm equally uncomfortable with companies declaring themselves bankrupt, then setting up shop under a slightly different name, with two fingers in the air to erstwhile suppliers who may have to settle for 10%, if lucky, of what was owed. Directors (of the failed firms) should be deemed unfit to run a business and refused trading rights, imo, and it always amazes me that such practises seemingly go ungoverned by any defined form of business regulation. That's right, K Bates/R Noades, we can see you sneaking out the back!

Or Cain's brewery, for instance...

[Soup Dragon]

The local Express & Star newspaper has 'tweeted' that the brewery has been purchaed by a consortium wishing to keep it as a micro-brewery and museum

[Andy Ven]

Confirmation:
http://www.expressandstar.com/business/midlands-business/2010/10/26/new-bosses-of-walsalls-highate-brewery-revealed/

Highgate MILD........

[hondo]

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/other-uk-business/2010/11/30/jobs-saved-at-highgate-brewery-in-walsall-65233-27738610/

[Andy Ven]

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/other-uk-business/2010/11/30/jobs-saved-at-highgate-brewery-in-walsall-65233-27738610/

Cheers!