'Rising costs are biggest issue my brewery faces'

A brewery is having to absorb cost rises of "just under double digits in terms of percentage increase" and a doubling of fuel costs, according to its managing director.

Recent BBC data shows 21 beer brewing companies closed in the West Midlands since the start of 2025, three of which were based in Shropshire.

Salopian Brewing Company, which is based in Hadnall, Shropshire, said although it was nowhere near closing, it was "saddened" by the numbers from across the region.

Boss Trevor Hourican said the mounting costs were the biggest issue the brewery faced: "It is the pressure across all areas of our business, that's from ingredients, through packaging, distribution and labour."

He added: "All of it is increasing at quite a rate alongside taxation, which there was a duty increase earlier on this year, which again puts further pressure on to ourselves and onto our customers."

He said the brewery absorbed the extra cost as he wanted it to "be as competitive and as fair to publicans" to buy their beers.

Salopian Brewery first started in Shrewsbury in 1995 and is now regarded as one of the biggest of its kind across the West Midlands.

It produces more than 20,000 barrels of beer a year for the taps of pubs across the UK.

It also has orders delivered to Switzerland and some P&O Cruise ships.

Across the UK, 320 beer brewing businesses shut last year, Companies House data shows.

Only 170 opened, resulting in a net loss of 150.

In addition, the beer industry estimates that about two pubs closed a day in the first quarter of 2026.

Telford-born food and drink writer Laura Hadland said the decline could be down to "2017 beer brewing bubble" popping, and thought Shropshire should not be as badly affected.

"I think all of the brewers again are experiencing a difficult time but we've seen a relatively low churn here in Shropshire, despite the West Midlands overall having one of the biggest reductions in numbers," Cudland said.

"In Shropshire, it is much more stable and I wonder if that is because our breweries are relatively sparse to begin with and all have their own home turf."

In a statement, a government spokesperson said it knew the role "independent breweries and pubs play in local communities, supporting jobs and growth".

They added they had "already launched a £4.3bn business rates support package and completed a review of the beer market".

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.