Market Drayton brewery boss raises a toast to business

Bosses of a Market Drayton brewery are raising a glass to future success – after adding three new pubs to add to their growing empire.

Joule's Brewery boasts 24 establishments after buying pubs in Nantwich, Alsager and Stoke-on-Trent from Punch Taverns.

Director Steve Nuttall said since the brewery opened last year it had built up an 'estate' of pubs in Shropshire and bordering counties.

He said: "We are very focused on looking for sites in key locations, we only trade locally and not with wholesalers so for us it's vital to secure a presence across the core geography.

We also need high quality and charming buildings. Despite the availability of sites it has not been easy to find the right criteria.

"We have done a deal this time round for a site in Nantwich which has long been a strategic goal of ours.

"The Leopard is a very high quality building and is perfect for our brand, a great area where we think the locals will welcome a local brewery flagship.

"The second site is in Alsager, another quality area where we think there is a market for our kind of offer, warm, low energy, real fires and a classic real pub experience.

"The Mere has always had a reputation as a classic ale house, it needs extensive work but of course we do this in every site.

"The third site which is in Stoke will be a partnership venture with a local operator with whom the company already has other investments.

"We already have a flagship in Stoke, the fabulous Glebe in Stoke Town so in Stoke we are building the brand with free traders who like what we are doing and respect the brand."