What does it really take to build a successful independent bar and brewery in the UK?
In this episode I sat down with John Gyngell, the founder of North Bar in Leeds, to talk about almost 30 years in hospitality, beer and the independent brewing industry.
John opened North Bar at just 24 years old, initially with no grand plan to create a craft beer institution. Leeds simply lacked the kind of independent bar culture he had experienced in Manchester. From those beginnings, North Bar gradually became known for great hospitality, better beer and introducing drinkers to products they might never have encountered before.
We talk about how North Bar discovered beers from Belgium, Germany and the United States, becoming an early champion of beers such as Brooklyn Lager, Duvel and Erdinger, and how that experience eventually helped lead to the creation of North Brewing Co.
John also talks openly about the brewery's rapid growth, the success of beers such as Transmission, expanding into a much larger brewery, selling beer around the world and getting North Brewing into UK supermarkets.
But the conversation also explores the much harder side of running a brewery.
John explains what happened when COVID hit during the move to North Brewing's larger Springwell brewery, the financial pressures that followed, rising costs, COVID loans and the eventual decision to enter administration. He discusses the deal with Kirkstall Brewery, why he believes the decision was made in good faith to protect the brand and team, and what happened after he left.
We also discuss what brewery founders can learn from those experiences, why having enough financial backing matters, the dangers of chasing growth too quickly, rebranding too often and following every new beer trend.
John shares his thoughts on whether craft beer really is dying, why beer trends are cyclical, how the quality of beer has changed and why independent beer still has a future.
We finish by talking about Hexagon Strategy, John's new venture helping breweries and hospitality businesses make better decisions using the experience he has gained from founding, scaling and running businesses in the industry.
And perhaps most importantly, John explains why great pubs and bars matter far beyond selling beer, describing them as part of the social glue of a community.
If you're interested in the history of UK craft beer, independent breweries, hospitality, brewery business advice or the real challenges of growing a beer business, there's plenty to take from this conversation.
North Bars Venues
https://northbar.com/venues
Timestamps
00:00 - 03:52 Starting North Bar at 24: John Gyngell's Journey Begins
03:53 - 08:04 Why Leeds Needed Something Different
08:05 - 13:07 Changing the Beer Line-Up and Introducing Customers to Craft Beer
13:08 - 15:15 Why North Bar Started North Brewing
15:16 - 20:06 The Birth of Transmission and North Brewing's Early Success
20:07 - 22:23 The Springwell Expansion, COVID and a Leap Too Far
22:24 - 27:34 North Brewing, Administration and the Kirkstall Deal
27:35 - 30:06 What Really Happens When a Brewery Goes Into Administration
30:07 - 32:18 Lessons for Brewery Founders: Money, Growth and Getting Help
32:19 - 36:51 Why Great Pubs and Bars Matter to Communities
36:52 - 41:15 Is Craft Beer Dying? John Gyngell on Trends and the Future
41:16 - 46:42 Hexagon Strategy, Brewery Advice and the Future of Independent Beer
46:43 Quickfire Questions and Wrap Up
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