Expanding Hartlepool firm takes over another business

And it has done it by taking over a pub estate.

Seven pubs have been acquired by the Hartlepool firm from Leeds Brewery but bosses say all 100 jobs will be maintained - with more to come - and the style of the Leeds brand won’t be changed.

Chris Soley, Chief Executive of Camerons Brewery said “We are delighted to have acquired such a prestigious group of pubs to add to our growing managed estate.

“Leeds Brewery have established a group of truly fantastic pubs which are very different from our current managed group, but with the same high retail standards and customer service”.

Camerons chiefs say they have worked closely with the owners of Leeds Brewery on the deal and Mr Soley added: “We have no intention of changing the style or offering of these pubs in any major way.

“When we purchased The Head of Steam group just over 2 years ago, we ensured we maintained the ethos Tony Brookes had instilled in the group, and we have taken this further with the development of new venues in Leeds, Headingley and Sheffield.”

Sam Moss, the owner of Leeds Brewery, said “For the last nine years, opening and running our pub estate has been hugely rewarding and a great deal of fun.

“We are delighted that, in Camerons Brewery, we have found an ambitious, family run company that shares our commitment to quality and service, who will be able to take the pub estate to the next level.”

As well as its core brewing operation, Camerons has a growing retail pub estate of more than 70 venues. The Hartlepool firm also contract brews for the likes of Heineken and Carlsberg, as well as other major multinational companies.

Formed in 2002, following its purchase by businessman David Soley, the company’s origins date to 1865 when John William Cameron was engaged to run the original brewery.

It was only in October last year that Camerons plans were reported to add 50 more pubs to its portfolio within five years, and that the firm wants to add 30 managed and 20 tenanted pubs to its number and hopes to do that by 2020.