News / Beer
Bristol brewery closes ‘with the deepest and saddest regret’
A brewery in Easton has become the latest to close in Bristol.
As well as being a brewery, the Dawkins Ales name is associated with some of the best pubs in the city including the Miner’s Arms in St Werburgh’s, the Hillgrove in Kingsdown and the Portcullis in Clifton.
Despite the closure of the brewery, the five pubs in Bristol (the other two are the Green Man in Kingsdown and the Victoria in Clifton) will remain as Dawkins.
is needed now More than ever
There was concern at the end of April when Dawkins pulled out of the East Bristol Brewery Trail, with a statement from the brewery now revealing why.
The award-winning brewery was established as the Matthews Brewing Co. in 2005 in Timsbury.
Dawkins Taverns was founded in 2002 by Glen Dawkins with the lease of the Miner’s Arms, with Glen acquiring Matthews in January 2010, changing its name to Dawkins Ales and moving the brewery in 2015 to Lawnwood Road in Easton.
Dawkins tap room in Easton was a popular stop-off during the East Bristol Brewery Trail – photo: Martin Booth
In a statement sent to East Bristol Hops, a group of beer enthusiasts who grow the hops that made up the Dawkins-brewed beer Easton Promise, the Dawkins team said: “It is with the deepest and saddest regret that we can officially confirm Dawkins Ales has had to close its doors of the brewery.”
On Thursday morning, Glen Dawkins released a statement, saying that he is closing the brewery “with a heavy heart”.
He said: “Despite the amazing efforts of the brilliant team we could not continue against the overwhelming headwinds of spiralling costs alongside post Covid recovery.
“I have seen many fellow brewers succumb and I am devastated to be joining them.
“Thank you to all our customers for their support as the brewery grew, helping us through recession and Covid. Good beers and good times were had and we will miss you all.
“All the Dawkins pubs remain open doing what they do best – serving their communities. Please continue to support us here.
“We are blessed with some excellent independent breweries and pubs in Bristol; raise a glass in them when you can!”
The Dawkins brewery in Easton also had a tap room attached – photo: Dawkins
On Saturday, an all-day closing party is taking place at the brewery and tap room with music from the Roots Society Soundsystem.
The news of Dawkins’ closure comes only a few months after Newtown Park brewery in St Philip’s announced that they were ceasing production.
Main photo & video: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Bristol brewery named best in the UK
- Brewery for sale as it goes into administration
- Brewery announces release of its final beer
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
