The future of a well-known Yorkshire-based brewing company has stabilised following financial strain, after its new owners pledged £2 million to its revival.
Great British Drinks Company, which previously bought Saltaire Brewery in 2024, has acquired Keystone Brewing Group in a deal worth around £4.5 million.
The acquisition secures over 145 jobs at companies like Black Sheep Brewery, based in North Yorkshire, which had filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators as it searched for a buyer or new investment.
The Great British Drinks Company intends to revitalise the Yorkshire brewery, with a commitment of more than £2 million in future investments to restore the business after months of uncertainty.
In recent years, Black Sheep had been making every effort to address the pressure currently facing the cask beer industry, even joining forces with a TV comedian to kickstart a cask campaign.
Back in 2022, the brewery partnered with Yorkshire-based comedian Maisie Adam to create a ‘Mean Tweets’ style video to dispel the myths of cask beer.
Ravi Sharma, co-founder of The Great British Drinks Company, said: “This isn’t just a restoration deal; it’s about restoring pride to Yorkshire. The region has a proud brewing heritage, and we could not stand by and let that be lost.”
Mr Sharma added: “The next few months will be exciting, the business has some fantastic people, brilliant customers and a group of suppliers that we will be very focussed on rebuilding relationships with.”
The expansion reflects growth by Paramount’s drinks arm, as the Great British Drinks Company takes over all of Keystone’s operations, including Purity Brewing Co, Brew by Numbers and North Brewing Company.
Mr Sharma said the acquisition will save three heritage brewery sites, insisting these are not just businesses but also community and local tourism assets.
Mr Sharma added: “Our approach is to ensure each brewery and its brands maintain their distinctiveness and independence, that only comes from the people and places involved, not through consolidation. Our ethos is one of stewardship.”
The new owners say their mission is to protect the heritage of these breweries while rebuilding optimism in the regional beer industry.
Anthony Collier, joint administrator and partner at FRP, said: “Keystone Brewing is a well-established and highly regarded business with strong brands and a loyal customer base. This transaction provides the business with a secure future under new ownership and delivers a positive outcome for employees and customers alike.”
