BrewDog gives its verdict on future of unopened Durham bar after closing 10 UK pubs
The brewing giant said that it would be closing ten of its bars later this week as part of a fresh strategy for the brewing firm's hospitality arm.
BrewDog said it has made efforts to preserve the sites, including York, Leeds North Road, and its flagship Aberdeen pubs, but it 'has simply not been possible to make these bars commercially viable'.
The BrewDog site on Milburngate, Durham (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) When asked about BrewDog's unopened bar in Durham, which is part of the controversial Milburngate development, the brewery chain confirmed there would be "no impact" on its plans to come to County Durham.
BrewDog's hopes of opening in Milburngate began in 2022, when it was announced that a bar would be 'opening soon' alongside Everyman Cinema and Premier Inn.
However, years of delays, including main contractor Tolent going into administration, as well as problems with fire safety regulations and other delays, the site still hasn't opened, despite all of the businesses being 'ready to go'.
Despite the issues surrounding BrewDog, it seems that its Durham site is firmly in its plans, and it hopes to open the site as soon as possible.
A BrewDog spokesperson said: "The recent announcement regarding bar closures has no impact on our plans for Durham.
BrewDog has given its verdict on its Durham site, amid closures of other UK pubs (Image: STUART BOULTON) "It remains our intention to operate the site, and we continue to engage with local parties to that end."
As for Milburngate, talks remain ongoing for now, according to Durham County Council.
In a brief update on Friday (July 25), a Durham County Council spokesperson said: 'Our new leadership is discussing the development with the funder and any updates will be provided to relevant parties at the appropriate time.'
For other BrewDog sites, though, the future is more uncertain.
The bar chain said it will shut the bars on Saturday (July 26) and launch a consultation with staff lasting at least 14 days.
The BrewDog Milburngate site (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) Chief Executive, James Taylor, told staff the closures are part of a refresh of its estate, partly in response to 'rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures' on the sector.
He added that the brand will, however, still look to grow its bar business, with plans for more larger bars in 'destination' locations and to open smaller community bars.
A BrewDog spokesman said: 'We can confirm that following a review of our bar business, we have made the difficult decision to close 10 bars, which reflects a more focused strategy and a rationalisation of our bar footprint.
Read more:
BrewDog to shut 10 UK pubs this week
BrewDog welcomes update on Durham City Milburngate
BrewDog looking for 'timetable of completion' at Milburngate
'This decision is not simply a response to the challenging UK hospitality market, but a proactive decision to redefine the bar division's focus for long-term and profitable growth – accounting for ongoing industry challenges, including rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures.
'We are working hard to minimise the impact on our people, and we expect to redeploy many affected team members across the BrewDog network.
'For those leaving the business, we're providing as much support as possible during this transition.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Entrepreneur
30 minutes ago
- Entrepreneur
Navigating the Raise
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Closing a £5m funding round in a down market is no small feat. For Charlotte Lucy Hall, co-founder of background checking platform Zinc, the process was defined not just by the financial climate, but by a set of overlapping personal and professional pressures that made the experience unique. "Deciding when to disclose my pregnancy during our first funding round was one of the toughest decisions of my life," she says. "My co-founder and I were also silently navigating a long, painful fertility journey. Balancing the intense emotional and physical exhaustion with the immense pressure to secure investment felt overwhelming at times." The backdrop was unforgiving. The economy had dipped, the tech bubble had burst, and high-profile bank collapses were unfolding mid-due diligence. "Very few firms were writing cheques, especially for first-time founders," Hall recalls. But investors ultimately bought into Zinc's mission to transform a frustrating process into something faster, more transparent, and more empowering. "Our candidate-centric solution is redefining how background checks are done across many industries with particular success in finance, healthcare and education sectors," Hall explains. "In today's competitive landscape, hiring delays can cost businesses both valuable time and top talent. We showed them that our technology gives HR and talent professionals back what matters most: their time." Zinc's traction played a key role in convincing investors to sign on. From early-stage start-ups like Marshmallow to fintech giants like Revolut and established names like Trainline, the company's client list reflected both adaptability and demand. "The Zinc solution isn't one-size-fits-all; it's tailored to each customer's unique structure and goals. But the consistent benefit for every client is easing the workload for HR teams and reducing stress for new hires during the background check process." The difficult market was only part of the challenge for Hall. She also had to navigate the delicate decision of when to tell investors she was pregnant. At the same time, she and her co-founder were dealing with a long and painful fertility journey. Balancing these personal struggles with the pressure to secure investment created a constant sense of overwhelm. Hall waited until her second trimester before sharing the news. "By then, we felt a bit more secure in the pregnancy. Thankfully, our investors were incredibly supportive - it was actually very reassuring and truly reconfirmed that we had chosen the right partner in AVP." Yet for all the concerns about external perceptions, she found the hardest part came from within. "Honestly, my own expectations were far harder to navigate than any investor scepticism," she reflects. "As founders, and especially as women, there's often this intense pressure to prove ourselves by carrying every burden simultaneously." The lesson, she says, is about pace - and permission. "Giving yourself permission to slow down when you need to, and trusting that progress doesn't always look like constant motion, is incredibly powerful. It's okay to take a breath and slow down." Hall is open about the additional challenges that came from not having a typical founder background. "No elite university affiliations or Big Tech names," she notes. "The absence of those credentials meant we faced an uphill battle for credibility, resulting in more rigorous vetting and outright rejections than we might have otherwise." Rather than attempting to compensate, Hall leaned in. "It pushed us to articulate our true differentiators: our unparalleled understanding of the problem we're solving, the clarity of our long-term vision, and our unwavering, mission-first ethos." That approach not only resonated - it helped redefine the conversation. "This wasn't about trying to fit a mould; it was about amplifying what made Zinc genuinely unique and compelling." Now, having made it through both the fundraise and early motherhood, Hall wants the ecosystem to evolve. "We need open, honest conversations - between founders, investors, and teams - about the reality of pregnancy and needing time to care for a new baby. These are natural life events that should be celebrated, not treated as taboo." Too often, she says, female founders are forced into an impossible choice. "Currently, women often can't win: judged for returning 'too soon' or for taking 'too long.' This shouldn't be a forced choice." Zinc's funding round may have concluded, but its broader significance has only just begun. It suggests that the next iteration of start-up culture - if it's going to be more inclusive - must reckon with the whole human behind the founder. And that itself could be a marker of progress. True flexibility, Hall says, must be more than a slogan. "We need a cultural shift that respects these decisions, encourages true flexibility, and provides concrete support, not just platitudes."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Spirits Giant Diageo, Maker of Smirnoff and Captain Morgan, Sees Opportunity in Drier Culture
Key Takeaways Diageo believes moderation offers the company an opportunity, interim CEO Nik Jhangiani said. The London-based business can serve those looking to drink "better, not more," as well as for smaller bottles and lower-alcohol beverages, Jhangiani said. Changing cultural norms around drinking are having less of an impact on sales than poor consumer sentiment and economic headwinds, the company has of the world's largest sellers of spirits has spent months downplaying the significance of Americans drinking less. Now, it says moderation may be a money-maker. Diageo (DEO), the company behind brands such as Johnnie Walker, Captain Morgan and Smirnoff, sees an opportunity to cater to those cutting back on drinking, interim CEO Nik Jhangiani said on a conference call Tuesday. The company wants to serve those reaching for smaller bottles, beverages with little or no alcohol and premium blends, which underscore that—for some—drinking is more of an occasional treat, he said. "What can we offer to be able to gain back some of those drinkers?," Jhangiani said, according to a transcript made available by AlphaSense. "Whether that's RTDs [ready-to-drink beverages], whether it's smaller formats, whether it's around low ABVs [alcohol by volume drinks], whether it's about when I drink, I drink better, not more—those are all elements we want to tap into." The volume of alcohol Diageo sold in North America fell 0.8% in fiscal 2025, which ended on June 30. Diageo forecasts 'slightly negative' sales in the first half of this fiscal year, Jhangiani told investors. Diageo has had success with alcohol-free products, such as Ritual Zero Proof and Guinness 0.0, Jhangiani said. Pre-mixed beverages with a set amount of alcohol, mixers and flavor have also been popular, potentially because they help with portion control, he said. Offering something in the middle—low-alcohol blends—may draw in consumers, Jhangiani said, including one woman a Diageo executive found making her own version of such a product. She was buying one full-strength bottle and one alcohol-free bottle of Tanqueray to mix together and create a less potent gin and tonic, Jhangiani said. Diageo has told analysts that it believes economic uncertainty and poor consumer sentiment are the main factors holding back sales. Other developments have had less of an impact on sales, including new weight loss drugs, changing cultural norms and the legalization of marijuana in some states, the company said on prior earnings calls. 'We clearly do see today's pressures being largely more macro and cyclical. Having said that, we also do believe moderation in some form is here to stay, right?' Jhangiani said, adding: 'That's what we've got to tap into." Read the original article on Investopedia Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ad watchdog slams Zara over ‘unhealthily thin' model photos
Fashion giant Zara published "socially irresponsible" photos of models who appeared to be unhealthily thin, the advertising watchdog has ruled. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received a complaint regarding two product listings on Zara's website in May. One featured a model wearing an oversize pocket shirt, while another featured a different model in a voluminous combined short dress. The complaint argued the ads were irresponsible because the models appeared unhealthily thin. Zara defended the images, stating the models had worked for well-known and reputable fashion brands and confirmed both had medical certification proving they were in good health. The retailer said that neither of the images had been modified, beyond very minor lighting and colouring edits. Zara confirmed that it had amended the product listings after receiving the complaint and removed the specific images. The ASA said the low-cut design of the shirt in the first ad drew attention to the model's upper chest area, creating a focal point around her collarbone, which was protruding. In addition, the positioning of her arms, while wearing a baggy shirt, created the impression that her arms, shoulders and chest were very slim. The ASA said: 'Overall, we considered that the pose of the model and the choice of clothing in the ad created the impression that the model was unhealthily thin.' The watchdog also said that the styling and lighting of the second image and the choice of clothing meant the ad created the impression that the model was unhealthily thin. The ASA said: 'For the above reasons, we concluded that the models… appeared unhealthily thin and that the ads were irresponsible.' Zara has been approached for comment. In July, a Marks & Spencer advertisement was banned by the ASA as it also featured a model who appeared to be "unhealthily thin". The ASA noted the model, dressed in slim-fit trousers and a white top, "appeared thin and she wore large pointed shoes which emphasised the slenderness of her legs". Furthermore, the ruling highlighted that camera angles distorted the model's head, making it appear out of proportion and "highlighted her small frame". A Zara UK spokesman said: 'We note the ASA's decision following an individual complaint regarding two images on our website which we removed when the ASA made us aware. 'We are committed to responsible content and follow stringent guidelines and controls in the selection and photographing of models, as well as in the selection of images.'
