London Fields Brewery put up for sale

On the market: London Fields Brewery. Photograph: Hackney Citizen

One of Hackney’s best-known beer brands has been put up for sale.

London Fields Brewery has been a staple of London craft brewing since 2011, and was named “Britain’s Coolest Beer Brand” by Superbrands in 2012.

But its owner Jules Whiteway has put the business up for sale.

According to a sales brochure from estate agents Davis Coffer Lyons, the sale is a “unique opportunity to acquire a major player in the London Craft Beer scene”, with offers invited for the entire business or a potential share.

The business has three major operations: London Fields Brewery, the Brewhouse and the Taproom.

When it was opened, London Fields was only the seventh commercial brewery in the whole of London, pre-empting the craft beer boom that has occurred in recent years.

Takeovers of independent breweries have seen an upsurge in recent years, with two major deals taking place last year.

Meantime was acquired by SABMiller in May 2015, followed closely by Camden Town Brewery, which was snapped up by ABinBev in December.

Turnover for London Fields Brewery this year was quoted at £1.8 million, with the forecast for 2016 suggesting an increase of £600,000 up to £2.4 million.

Despite this, profits have taken a hit in recent years, with losses of over £400,000 reported in 2015.

According to the estate agent, London Fields Brewery’s losses are as a result of “issues surrounding the owner’s past and a dispute with HMRC”.