COMMUNITY NEWS
ILKLEY BREWERY ONE OF YORKSHIRE’S
‘MOST PROMISING YOUNG COMPANIES’ Ilkley Brewery is one of three Yorkshire companies to win in the Governmentbacked Local Business Accelerators campaign to find the region’s most promising young companies.
founder. “We have developed our craft, listened to our customers and grown the business accordingly. Recognition like this really bolsters our success and opens up fantastic opportunities.”
With sales up over 100 per cent and production levels five times what they were in 2010, Ilkley Brewery is celebrating a third year of growth and looking forward to a prosperous New Year.
The Yorkshire judging panel consisted of Paul Ayre, managing partner of law firm Gordons LLP, Kevin Hollinrake, MD of Hunters Property Group, John Tordoff, MD of JCT600 motor group, and Bernard Ginns, the Yorkshire Post’s business editor.
“In 2009, we never imagined we would be brewing over 30,000 pints a week just three years down the line”, said Stewart Ross, Ilkley Brewery’s co-
“The rate at which the brewery has grown this year has been astonishing”, said Chris Ives, one of the brewery’s
Julie Brett, Office Manager, directors Chris Ives, Richard Shelton, & Stewart Ross, & Graham Coultas, Brewery Operative.
08 February 2012 | northleedslife.co.uk
three directors. “Levels of demand have been higher than we envisaged meaning a fifth fermentor was a must if we were to deliver on every order. It’s been a fast-paced but exciting year which will put us on the front foot for 2012.” “In just three years The Ilkley Brewery has really established itself”, said John Tordoff, who will provide Ilkley Brewery with three months of mentoring. The brewery also wins a substantial amount of free advertising in the Yorkshire Post. All three companies will now go on to the national final, the winner of which will receive a year’s mentoring from Deborah Meaden or Dragon’s Den fame. Ilkley Brewery also scooped seven awards this year. Stout Mary won silver at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) Northern Region Beer Competition. There were also wins at the Clifford Champion Beer Festival in Leeds, Guiseley Factory Workers Beer Festival, Horsforth Beer Festival and Clitheroe Beer Festival. The brewery’s flagship beer, Mary Jane, won Beer of the Year at the Muse pub in Wetherby.