Big Smoke Brew Co

What Big Smoke Brew Co does

Big Smoke Brew Co is a UK-based, independent brewery and pub company founded in 2014 in Surbiton, Surrey, by a group of co-founders including Richard Craig and James Morgan. The company relocated brewing operations in 2018–2019 to a dedicated 55hl brewhouse in Esher, Surrey, with installed annual production capacity of 20,000 hectolitres, and it operates a vertically integrated model spanning brewing, pub estate, branded airport sites, direct-to-consumer e-commerce, subscription, and merchandise.

Its core product range comprises hop-forward pale ales, lagers, IPAs and seasonal/porters, including flagship Electric Eye (5% Pale Ale, 2021 European Beer Challenge Gold), Cold Spark (3.6% Citra Pale, 2019 SIBA Gold), Big Smoke Pilsner (4%), Helles Lager (4.7%), Universal Session IPA (4.3%), Medicine Man IPA (6%), Dark Wave Porter (4.5%, seasonal), and the alcohol-free Pure Shores and Tropical Shores pale ales (0.5%). Products are packaged in 330ml cans via an in-house canning line and sold direct through the brewery webshop, the Beer Collective monthly subscription, six owned pubs across Surrey and Greater London (The Antelope, The Poyntz Arms, The Red Lion, The Flintgate, The Albion, The Bricklayer's Arms), and four Big Smoke branded sites at Heathrow T3/T5, Gatwick South and Luton operated in partnership with Airport Retail Enterprises.

The business makes money through one-time product sales of beer, merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, glassware, prints) and gift boxes, never-expiring digital gift cards, the Beer Collective monthly subscription, and pub/airport food and beverage operations. It targets UK beer enthusiasts and pub-goers, airport travelers, and the no/low-alcohol segment, with a distinct visual brand identity co-developed with Telegramme Paper Co and Fried Cactus Studio. The company is privately held, with its only known external capital being an undisclosed 2018 investment from a private individual.

Name

Big Smoke Brew Co

Legal name

Big Smoke Brew Co. Ltd

Website

https://bigsmokebrew.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Big Smoke Brew Co is an independent UK brewery and pub company producing hop-forward craft beer in Esher, Surrey, and selling it through six owned pubs, four airport sites, a nationwide e-commerce webshop, and a monthly beer subscription.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewery

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD)

Keywords

• Craft beer production
• Brewery operations
• Pub hospitality
• Craft beer subscription
• Alcohol-free beer

Headquarters

HQ city

Esher

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Beer Sales: Direct sales of canned beer through e-commerce and taproom. Core range includes Electric Eye (Pale Ale), Cold Spark (Citra Pale), Universal (Session IPA), Big Smoke Pilsner, Helles Lager, and Medicine Man (IPA). Seasonal and specialty beers also available.
2. Pub Operations: Revenue from 6 owned pubs serving Big Smoke beers alongside food service. Includes The Antelope (Surbiton), The Poyntz Arms (East Molesey), The Red Lion (Thames Ditton), The Flintgate (Weybridge), The Albion (Kingston), and The Bricklayer's Arms (Hersham).
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, caps, tote bags, beanies, glassware, prints, and gift boxes through the online shop.
4. Airport Sites: Partnership with Airport Retail Enterprises operating 4 sites in London airports: The Globe (Heathrow T5), Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen (Gatwick South), Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen (Luton), and The Oceanic (Heathrow T3).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Big Smoke Brew Co is a craft brewery and pub company that produces and sells a core range of canned beers (pale ales, IPAs, lagers, porters, and alcohol-free options) from its 55hl brewhouse in Esher, Surrey, supported by an in-house canning line. The company operates a chain of six owned pubs across Surrey and Greater London, four London airport sites through a partnership with Airport Retail Enterprises, and sells beer, branded merchandise, gift boxes, and gift cards direct-to-consumer via its own e-commerce webshop. A monthly subscription service (Big Smoke Beer Collective) provides recurring direct delivery of beer to consumers.

Product overview

Big Smoke Brew Co is a modern brewery and pub company established in 2014, producing flavourful beer from its 55hl brewhouse with 20,000hls/year production capacity in Esher, Surrey. The company's core product portfolio consists of canned and bottled beers including: Electric Eye (flagship 5% pale ale), Cold Spark (3.6% Citra pale ale), Big Smoke Pilsner (4%), Helles Lager (4.7%), Medicine Man IPA (6%), Universal Session IPA (4.3%), Dark Wave Porter (seasonal, 4.5%), Pure Shores and Tropical Shores (alcohol-free options at 0.5%). These beers are sold through the company's webshop, their six pub locations across Surrey and Greater London, and four airport sites operated in partnership with Airport Retail Enterprises. The company also offers merchandise (t-shirts, hoodies, caps, glassware, prints), gift products (gift boxes, gift cards), and the Beer Collective subscription service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Big Smoke Beer Collective: Monthly beer subscription service offering regular deliveries of Big Smoke beers.

Products and services

• Electric Eye - Pale Ale Flagship 5% ABV pale ale brewed with Citra, Simcoe, and Chinook hops. Features bold citrus flavours upfront followed by a crisp, dry finish with tropical fruit aromas of mango and passionfruit. Awarded 2021 European Beer Challenge Gold. Sold in 330ml cans through the e-commerce webshop, pubs, and airport sites.
• Cold Spark - Citra Pale Session pale ale at 3.6% ABV brewed with Citra hops. Gluten free and vegan friendly. Features zesty lemon and grapefruit on the nose and palate with a sharp, refreshing citrus hit. Awarded 2019 SIBA National Beer Awards Gold and 2021 European Beer Challenge Silver.
• Big Smoke Pilsner Pilsner at 4% ABV brewed with Herkules and Saaz hops. A clean, precise lager paying respect to the classic European style with a smooth body, peppery/herbal aroma, and crisp finish.
• Helles Lager German-style Helles Lager at 4.7% ABV brewed with Mittlefruh, Saaz, and Herkules hops. Crisp and dry with subtle fruit character. Gluten free and vegan friendly.
• Medicine Man - IPA IPA at 6% ABV brewed with Chinook, Simcoe, and Amarillo hops. Perfectly balanced between west and east coast IPA styles with a resinous nose and refreshingly dry, hoppy, piney finish. Vegan.
• Universal - Session IPA Session IPA at 4.3% ABV. A laid-back, hop-forward beer delivering big flavour in a lighter package with vibrant notes of mango, passionfruit, and citrus.
• Dark Wave - Porter Seasonal Porter at 4.5% ABV brewed with Fuggles hops. Features chocolate and smooth roasted malts with notes of coffee and caramel.
• Pure Shores - Alcohol Free Pale Ale Alcohol-free pale ale at 0.5% ABV brewed with Amarillo and Celeia hops. Features bright citrus notes (orange peel, grapefruit) with resinous pine and gentle malt sweetness.
• Tropical Shores - Mango and Passionfruit Pale Ale Alcohol-free pale ale at 0.5% ABV brewed with Amarillo and Celeia hops. Bright and fruity with mango and passionfruit flavours, well-balanced with a soft finish. Vegan.
• Big Smoke Mixed Pack Beer Box Mixed case of 12 or 24 x 330ml cans featuring a selection of core range beers including Cold Spark, Universal, Pilsner, and Electric Eye.
• Alcohol-Free Mixed Beer Box Mixed case of alcohol-free beers including Tropical Shores, available in 6, 12, or 24 cans.
• The Big Smoke Gift Box Gift package priced at £55 containing 12 x 330ml core range beers, a limited edition Big Smoke T-shirt, a limited edition pint glass, and a surprise gift.
• Big Smoke Gift Cards Digital gift cards available in denominations of £10, £40, £60, £150, and £200 for use on the brewery webshop. Never expire.
• Big Smoke Beer Collective Monthly beer subscription service delivering Big Smoke beers regularly to subscribers.
• Big Smoke Pub Estate Six owned pubs across Surrey and Greater London: The Antelope (Surbiton, the original pub since 2014 with The Brewhouse function and event space, Top 500 pub 2025), The Poyntz Arms (East Molesey), The Red Lion (Thames Ditton), The Flintgate (Weybridge), The Albion (Kingston, 30+ draught beers and ciders), and The Bricklayer's Arms (Hersham). All serve Big Smoke beers on keg and cask with home-cooked food.
• Airport Sites Four London airport locations operated in partnership with Airport Retail Enterprises: The Globe (Heathrow T5), Big Smoke Taphouse and Kitchen (Gatwick South), Big Smoke Taphouse and Kitchen (Luton), and The Oceanic (Heathrow T3). Serve Big Smoke beers, cocktails, wines, smoked meats, breakfasts, and all-day food.
• Telegramme Paper Co. Collaboration Prints Limited edition art print series created in collaboration with Telegramme Paper Co., including Universe, Dive, Sunshine, and Electric Eye designs. Vintage-inspired, colourful and clean aesthetic.
• Fried Cactus Studio Merchandise Collaboration Apparel collaboration with Fried Cactus Studio (Bournemouth, Dorset) featuring four new t-shirt designs and a canvas bag that reimagine Big Smoke's beer can artwork, plus the 'No Space for Bad Vibes' poster.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Airport Retail EnterprisescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership to operate four Big Smoke branded sites in London airports: The Globe (Heathrow T5), Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen (Gatwick South), Big Smoke Taphouse & Kitchen (Luton), and The Oceanic (Heathrow T3). Sites offer Big Smoke beers, food, and hospitality services to airport travelers.
• Telegramme Paper CominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partnership with illustration and design studio Telegramme Paper Co for brand identity and poster designs. Collaboration began in 2014 and continues with new limited edition print series including 'Universe', 'Dive', and 'Sunshine' posters. Telegramme creates colourful, clean, striking vintage-inspired designs for the brewery.
• Fried Cactus StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative partnership with illustration and design studio Fried Cactus Studio (Bournemouth, Dorset) for merchandise designs. Collaboration created new t-shirt designs and the 'No Space for Bad Vibes' poster. Fried Cactus reimagined Big Smoke's beer can designs into apparel.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bigsmokebrew
• Facebookfacebook.com/bigsmokebrewco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Big Smoke Brew Co