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Award-winning brewery to stay in the North East with help from Clarke MairsOne of the North East’s longest standing micro breweries has been taken over by a local couple, helped by the business expertise of Clarke Mairs.
As a result of legal expertise High House Farm Brewery and visitor centre in Matfen is able to continue brewing and trading in its established Northumberland. Home to multi award-winning ales, Heather and Gary Scott purchased both the brewery and the visitor centre last month. Gary, who was brought up in Stamfordham, was eager to keep the ales trading from its original home. He said: “With the news lately regarding Newcastle Brown Ale now being brewed in Yorkshire and the Twinning factory being moved to southern England, we were really keen to keep the North East institution that is our Matfen ales in the North East where it belongs!” Buying the business has enabled the couple, who have a joint career spanning over 30 years in the catering and management trade, to save all existing jobs and by extending opening hours of the restaurant, to employ more staff. Now employing a total of 15 full and part time roles, Heather said: “It was very important for us to keep everyone’s jobs safe which we have managed to do and we have plans to grow the business further. “It’s a very exciting time for us. Within the past month, we have already opened the restaurant later for extra evenings and with a successful marriage licence, we have also applied for a civil partnership licence, which means we will ultimately need to employ even more local people to cope with demand.” Partner for Clarke Mairs, Tim Clarke, added: “I felt very passionate about Heather and Gary buying out the business as, with them living locally, we all felt the need to keep the business local. They have a wealth of experience in the trade and I have no doubt they will continue to grow the business and brand as an award winning North East attraction.” The brewery and visitor centre was originally founded in 2003 by fourth generation farmer, Steven Urwin, on the 200 acre family farm in Grade II listed converted farm buildings. The couple are keen to maintain the tradition of brewing the award winning beers including Auld Hemp, Matfen Magic and Nel’s Best by continuing to use the barley grown on the Urwin’s farm in the traditional ales. |
