Opportunity to buy shares in West Berks brewery

The founders of the award-winning independent West Berkshire Brewery, Dave (pictured in the early days of brewing) and Helen Maggs, are selling shares in the company they founded nearly two decades ago.
Together with their business partners, Andy and Karen Baum, they are offering people the opportunity of purchasing a stake, from £1,000.
They are hoping to raise up to £2m, a proportion of which will be ploughed into further expanding the business.
The idea was first mooted last March when David Bruce – who made his fortune with Bruce’s Brewery and the Firkin chain of pubs – joined the board as chairman in 2003.
The 65-year-old entrepreneur said then that he was looking forward to helping steer the brewery through its next stage of development.
Founded in 1995, West Berkshire Brewery started life in a converted barn behind the Pot Kiln pub, Frilsham.
In 1998, the Maggs were joined in the enterprise by property expert Andrew Baum and his wife, Karen, as shareholders.
Market demand resulted in a new, 50-barrel plant at the old Flour Barn, near Yattendon.
Mr Maggs said: “We want people who are as passionate about fantastic beer and the brewing business as we are, who may have watched us grow from small beginnings in 1995, to join us and share in the future success of what we have created here, in our little corner of Berkshire.”
Having used their life savings to start making beer the Maggs, together with the Baums, have created a brewery that produces an array of award-winning beers and generates annual sales of more than £1m.
Sales at the brewery have grown by an average of approximately 20 per cent every year since 2001.
International brewing and pub industry entrepreneur David Bruce, who lives locally, joined as chairman in March 2013.
A spokesman for the venture, Mark Stretton, said that the owners, while wanting to “realise some of the value of the brewery for their retirement,” had rejected a traditional sale.
He said: “They want to remain involved and this seemed a good idea – to give enthusiasts the chance to co-own the brewery with them.
“This is an investment which, we believe, will result in a significant appreciation due to the growth of the business.”
The brewery, based just outside Yattendon, produces eight different beers, including the flagship brands Good Old Boy, Swift’s Pale Ale and Dr Hexter’s Healer, as well as a raft of seasonal and limited-edition brews.
Its products are now stocked in pubs across London and the Home Counties, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, in more than 30 branches of Waitrose and in the London store, Fortnum & Mason.
Its operation now includes online sales and its own brewery shop, which stocks a variety of beers, take-home packs and merchandise.
The offer to buy a stake in the business will stay open throughout January. All enquiries should be made to the company via the brewery website at www.wbbrew.com