What Robinsons Brewery does

Robinsons Brewery (legally Frederic Robinson Limited) is an independent family-owned British brewer founded in 1838 and headquartered in Stockport, England. The company operates an integrated brewing and hospitality business comprising three core lines: brewing and packaging an in-house beer portfolio of approximately 17 named SKUs (including flagship brand Unicorn brewed since 1896 and the award-winning barley wine Old Tom launched in 1899), managing an on-trade estate of approximately 250 pubs, inns and hotels across the North West of England with locations extending into Cheshire, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and Snowdonia, and providing contract bottling and brewing services for third-party beer, cider, soft drink, RTD and no/low beverage brands from the Stockport facility.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across draught beer sales through the managed and tenanted pub estate (Pub Partners), retail packaged beer through the own-brand Drink Aisle webstore, third-party supermarkets including Sainsbury's, and the Amazon marketplace, supplemented by accommodation income at pub sites in scenic locations, visitor centre tours at the Stockport brewery, and contract bottling fees. Customers include on-trade Pub Partners and managed-house consumers (B2C hospitality), packaged-beer retail consumers (Sainsbury's, Amazon), and beverage brands procuring contract manufacturing capacity. The business remains entirely privately held under family ownership with no external institutional or venture backing, has 101-250 employees, and operates exclusively within the United Kingdom.

Name

Robinsons Brewery

Legal name

Frederic Robinson Limited

Website

https://robinsonsbrewery.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1838

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Robinsons Brewery is an independent family-owned British brewer, founded in 1838 and based in Stockport, brewing a portfolio of ~17 ales, lagers and IPAs, operating approximately 250 pubs, inns and hotels across the North West of England, and providing contract bottling and brewing services to third-party beverage brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (44532)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB), Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Pub operations
• Contract bottling
• British ales
• Family brewery

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockport

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Pub Operations: Operates approximately 250 pubs, inns and hotels across the North West generating revenue through food, drink and accommodation sales
2. Beer Sales - Draught: Sells draught beers directly through their pub estate and to other retailers
3. Bottled Beer Retail: Sells bottled beers through their own webstore (Drink Aisle), supermarkets (Sainsbury's and others), and Amazon
4. Contract Bottling and Brewing: Offers expert contract bottling and brewing services from their Stockport facility for beer, cider, soft drinks, RTDs and no/low products
5. Accommodation: Provides accommodation services at pubs in picturesque locations including Snowdonia, Cheshire, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Robinsons Brewery is an independent family brewer founded in 1838 that brews and sells a portfolio of award-winning British ales from its Stockport brewery. The company operates approximately 250 pubs, inns and hotels across North West England providing food, drink and accommodation, and offers contract bottling and brewing services to third-party beverage brands covering beer, cider, soft drinks, RTDs and no/low products.

Product overview

Robinsons Brewery operates as an independent family brewer offering a portfolio of award-winning British ales brewed in Stockport since 1838, alongside a hospitality business encompassing approximately 250 pubs across the North West. The product portfolio centres on 17 named beer brands spanning styles from barley wine (Old Tom at 8.5%) to lagers and IPAs, with the flagship Unicorn beer brewed since 1896 and the famous TROOPER collaboration with Iron Maiden. The business operates across three main service lines: brewing and packaging their own beer brands, managing a pub estate (both managed houses and tenanted pub partners), and providing contract bottling/brewing services to third parties from their Stockport facility. Additional revenue streams include visitor centre attractions, accommodation in scenic areas, and a direct-to-consumer online shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Old Tom: Legendary barley wine beer launched in 1899, dubbed 'The original craft beer'. Has won prestigious awards including World's Best Ale and Champion Beer of Britain.
• Unicorn
• EmPowHer
• HOPP
• Dizzy Blonde
• Cumbria Way
• Cascade
• TROOPER
• Brewhouse
• Citra Pale Ale
• Helles
• Hopnik
• Robinsons Smooth
• Robinsons Dark Smooth
• Lazy Waves
• Cwrw'r Ddraig Aur

Products and services

• Old Tom Legendary strong dark ale (barley wine) at 8.5% ABV, dubbed 'The original craft beer'. Born in 1899 and nationally and internationally recognised with awards including World's Best Ale and Champion Beer of Britain. Contains molasses and vinous fruit flavours with warming, peppery, rich character.
• TROOPER Premium ale at 4.7% ABV brewed in collaboration with Iron Maiden and marketed globally.
• Unicorn Award-winning flagship premium ale brewed since 1896. Found in many Robinsons pubs and available at retailers.
• Hopnik Award-winning IPA at 4.7% ABV featuring citrus, floral and hoppy flavours from Citra and Centennial hops. Bold yet refreshing with malty caramel hints, zingy mouthfeel and lingering bitterness.
• Robinsons Smooth Clean, refreshing bitter premium ale at 3.4% ABV with full flavour and distinctive creamy golden appearance. Specially brewed with additional hops for a distinctive bitter-sweet initial taste.
• Robinsons Dark Smooth Premium ale with dark smooth character at 3.4% ABV.
• Dizzy Blonde Blonde ale at 3.8% ABV. Available on tap at managed houses and pub partners, and online through retailers.
• HOPP IPA style beer at 4.3% ABV.
• EmPowHer Lager at 4.4% ABV.
• Brewhouse Lager at 4.0% ABV. Available in Robinsons pubs across the Pub Partner and Managed House estate.
• Helles Lager growing in popularity across Robinsons pubs at 4.6% ABV.
• Cascade Full-bodied classic premium ale at 4.8% ABV. Available in Robinsons pubs.
• Cumbria Way Premium ale at 4.1% ABV popular in Cumbrian pubs.
• Citra Pale Ale Pale ale featuring citrus hop character at 3.4% ABV.
• Lazy Waves IPA at 4.9% ABV.
• TROOPER Nitro Nitro version of the TROOPER premium ale at 4.7% ABV.
• Cwrw'r Ddraig Aur Premium ale at 4.1% ABV served in Welsh pubs.
• Robinsons Pub Estate Approximately 250 pubs, inns and hotels across the North West of England, operated as Managed Houses and through Pub Partners tenanted pub network. Offers food, drink and hospitality experiences to consumers.
• Robinsons Accommodation Charming accommodation services at pubs in picturesque UK locations including Snowdonia, Cheshire, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales.
• Contract Bottling and Brewing Expert contract bottling and brewing services from the Stockport facility. Works with beer, cider, soft drinks, RTDs and no/low products with flexible packaging options for third-party beverage brands.
• Visitors Centre & Shires Brewery tour and event venue at the Stockport brewery offering brewing process tours, history exhibits, conference facilities and an onsite shop.
• Drink Aisle Online Shop Direct-to-consumer online store selling bottled Robinsons beers, gifts and hampers for delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• Old Tom has won prestigious awards including World's Best Ale and Champion Beer of Britain

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Prostate Cancer Support (PCS)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Small not-for-profit charity based in Stockport working to raise awareness of signs, symptoms and early checking for prostate cancer. Ongoing partnership since early 2025 with a collaboration beer planned.
• Licensed Trade CharityminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Provides wellbeing, financial, and practical support to those working in the hospitality sector. Robinsons team members participated in Pedalling to Pubs cycling challenge in June 2025.
• Only A Pavement AwayminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Charity connecting employers in hospitality industry with charities working with people facing homelessness, prison leavers and veterans. Robinsons raised money through charity bike ride in June 2025.
• Zero Carbon ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Not-for-profit organisation providing a productive and action-oriented way to collaborate on sustainability challenges. Robinsons joined in 2022 to formalise their stance on running the business sustainably.
• Manchester Metropolitan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Academic partnership for the Greener Retailing initiative - originally released in 2016 to find ways pubs can be greener whilst also saving money. Updated in February 2024.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Greene King: UK's largest pub retailer and brewer, operating a regional brewery plus thousands of managed and tenanted pubs. Most direct comparison to Robinsons' vertically integrated brewery + pub estate model, but at substantially larger scale.
• Shepherd Neame: Britain's oldest brewer (founded 1698) producing Kent-based ales plus operating a portfolio of pubs and hotels. Closely matches Robinsons' heritage-led, family-owned regional brewer + pub estate model.
• Adnams: Suffolk-based independent brewer and pub/hotel operator with strong heritage and on-trade presence. Comparable vertically integrated independent brewer + hospitality model.
• Timothy Taylor: Independent family-owned Yorkshire brewer focused on cask ales with strong regional pub ties. Highly comparable premium-ale positioning and family ownership, though Robinsons is materially larger.
• JW Lees: Manchester-based independent family brewer (founded 1828) with a tied pub estate across the North West. Most direct regional overlap with Robinsons, including geography (NW England) and family-brewery + tenanted pub structure.
• Marston's: Listed UK regional brewer with a national pub estate and contract brewing capabilities. Closely comparable business mix of brewing, tenanted/managed pubs, and licensed trade partnerships.
• Fuller Smith & Turner: London-based regional brewer (Fuller's) with an estate of managed pubs and tenanted partners. Closely matches Robinsons' brewery + pub estate + premium ale positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Diageo: Global beverage giant with broad alcoholic drinks portfolio including beer and pub interests. Indirect competition on retail beer distribution and contract brewing demand.
• Molson Coors Beverage Company: Global multi-category brewer with UK operations including owned UK brands and pub interests. Competes with Robinsons in retail bottled beer (Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda) and on-trade draught supply.
• Heineken UK: UK subsidiary of the global brewer, operating Star Pubs & Bars tenanted estate. Comparable on brewing scale and pub estate, but materially broader portfolio and global parent backing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RobinsonsBrewery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/robinsons-brewery
• Instagraminstagram.com/robinsonsbrewery
• TikToktiktok.com/@robinsonsbrewery
• Xx.com/robbiesbrewery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Robinsons Brewery