Hepworth Brewery

What Hepworth Brewery does

Hepworth Brewery is an independent craft brewery headquartered in Pulborough, West Sussex, United Kingdom, founded by Andy Hepworth in 2000 and operating from a custom-built, state-of-the-art facility since 2016 under the legal entity Hepworth & Company Brewers Ltd. The company produces a portfolio of more than 20 craft beers across pale ales, lagers, IPAs, stouts, seasonal offerings, and specialty variants including gluten-free, vegan, organic, low-carb, and alcohol-free options, plus two sub-brands (Ridgeway and Coniston) and a WASE collaboration line. Production is anchored by an annual brewing capacity of 30,000 brewers' barrels with automated packaging lines capable of 5,000 bottles/hour and 3,000 cans/hour, sterile membrane triple cold filtration in lieu of pasteurisation, an on-site microbiology and alcohol testing laboratory, and a 500-litre trial brewing plant.

The business operates three revenue streams. The largest is direct-to-consumer beer sales through the hepworthbrewery.co.uk e-commerce shop with UK-wide courier delivery, supplemented by an on-site taproom and shop. The second is a B2B contract brewing service providing brewing, packaging, warehousing, and distribution support to established and emerging beer brands, leveraging three smaller dedicated on-site brewing facilities for client separation; named partners include Coalition Brewing and UNLTD. The third consists of ancillary revenue from brewery tours (Standard £20, Advanced £27.95), gift vouchers (£10-£100), and merchandise. Pricing is unit-based across all streams, with beer bottles/cans typically £2.00-£3.70 and an Ale Mixed Case at £30.

The company targets 85% carbon neutrality by end of 2025 through on-site energy production, water and waste recycling, and a partnership with WASE for wastewater-to-energy technology. Certifications include SALSA (food safety), SEDEX (ethical employer), Soil Association (organic), and Marks & Spencer supplier accreditation, alongside industry recognition including SIBA Supreme Champion of Craft Beers and multiple Taste of Sussex awards. Operations are UK-only; the company explicitly does not supply outside the UK, and headcount is in the 11-50 range.

Name

Hepworth Brewery

Legal name

Hepworth & Company Brewers Ltd

Website

https://hepworthbrewery.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hepworth Brewery is an independent UK craft brewery producing over 20 beers (own brand plus Ridgeway, Coniston, and WASE sub-lines) alongside B2B contract brewing services, selling directly to consumers via e-commerce and taproom. Founded 2000, based in Pulborough, West Sussex.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (42481)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA), Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Low/No-Alcohol Fermented Beverage Production (Hard Kombucha Base, Dealcoholized) (AFAFAHAI)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Contract brewing services
• Gluten-free beer
• Organic craft lager
• Brewery tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Pulborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct Beer Sales: Sells craft beer products directly to consumers through e-commerce (online shop) with delivery across the UK. Products include bottles, mini kegs, polypins, cases, and cans across various beer styles.
2. Contract Brewing Services: Provides comprehensive contract brewing services to help brands create exceptional beer with precision, efficiency, and sustainability. Includes brewing, packing, warehousing, and distribution support for established businesses and emerging brands.
3. Taproom and Shop Sales: Operates a shop and taproom at the brewery premises for walk-in beer sales, with opening hours Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm.
4. Brewery Tours: Offers guided brewery tours with Standard (£20) and Advanced (£27.95) options. Tours include behind-the-scenes look at brewing process and tasting sessions.
5. Gift Vouchers and Merchandise: Sells gift vouchers (£10-£100) redeemable online and in-store for beer, merchandise, and more. Also sells merchandise such as Hepworth Beanies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hepworth Brewery is an independent Sussex craft brewery that produces and sells a portfolio of premium gluten-free, organic and traditional ales, lagers, IPAs, stouts and seasonal beers directly to UK consumers through its online shop and taproom. It also operates a contract brewing partnership program offering brewing, packing, warehousing and distribution services to established and emerging beer brands, supported by brewery tours and gift/merchandise lines.

Product overview

Hepworth Brewery is an independent craft brewery founded in 2000, operating from a custom-built state-of-the-art facility in Pulborough, West Sussex since 2016. The company's product portfolio centres on premium craft beers including pale ales (Sussex Pale Ale, Prospect Pale Ale, Iron Horse Pale Ale), lagers (Blonde Lager, Saxon Lager, Björt Low-Carb Lager, Gurkha Lager), IPAs (Charger IPA, Daws IPA, Viking IPA), stouts (Conqueror Stout, Imperial Stout), and seasonal/limited offerings (Christmas Cracker, Reindeer's Revolt). The WASE collaboration line features three sustainable beers (Electric Hop, Botanic State, Liquid Asset) powered by wastewater-to-energy technology. Sub-brand portfolios include Ridgeway beers (IPA, Blue, Bitter, Foreign Export Stout, Imperial variants) and Coniston beers (Bluebird Bitter, XB Bluebird Bitter, Old Man Ale). The company also offers gluten-free, vegan, organic, and low-alcohol options alongside contract brewing services with 30,000 barrels annual capacity, brewery tours, gift vouchers, and merchandise. The operation targets 85% carbon neutrality by end of 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sussex Pale Ale 3.5% A classic well-hopped Sussex pale ale, 3.5% ABV, brewed with finest malted barley and Golding and Admiral hops; sold to UK consumers via online shop and taproom. Note: Mini kegs and polypins are not gluten free.
• Prospect Pale Ale 4.5% An organic, bottle-conditioned pale ale, 4.5% ABV, with a distinctive bitter note balanced with Sussex-grown barley malt. Mini kegs and polypins are not gluten free.
• Blonde Lager 5.0% An organic, gluten-free, traditionally brewed lager at 5.0% ABV with crisp, refreshing flavour and delicate floral hop notes; available in 500ml bottles, cases and 330ml bottles.
• Spartan Ale 0.5% (Alcohol-Free) An alcohol-free pale ale at 0.5% ABV, certified gluten-free and vegan, with earthy bitterness, citrus hints and subtle desert sweetness; available in 500ml bottles and cases.
• Charger IPA 5.5% A bold Sussex IPA at 5.5% ABV made with a blend of four British hop varieties delivering dense aroma and a perfectly balanced palate, for craft beer consumers.
• Aztec Lager 0.5% (Alcohol-Free) An alcohol-free lager at 0.5% ABV brewed with noble Czech and German hops and infused with agave syrup and inulin from cactus; targeted at health-conscious and alcohol-free consumers.
• Conqueror Stout 4.5% A characterful Sussex stout at 4.5% ABV with sweet malty flavour, smooth body and rich dark profile, for craft stout drinkers.
• Iron Horse Pale Ale 4.8% A premium gluten-free Sussex pale ale at 4.8% ABV brewed with Sussex hops and roasted malts with traditional hoppy aroma and finish.
• The Right Stuff 5.0% (Organic APA) An organic, gluten-free American Pale Ale at 5.0% ABV brewed with Chinook and Cascade hops, naturally carbonated, certified by the Soil Association; winner of the Beer and Cider Award at the Great British Food Awards.
• Björt Lager 4.2% (Low-Carb) A low-carb Icelandic-style lager at 4.2% ABV delivering 115 kcal and 0.3g carbohydrates per 330ml bottle, brewed with Elbe-Saale Saaz and Hallertau Hersbrucker hops; certified gluten-free, vegan and low-carb for health-conscious drinkers.
• Gurkha 4.8% (Licensed Lager) A smooth, refreshing lager brewed under licence at Hepworth Brewery, inspired by Nepalese Gurkha warriors and available in 660ml bottles, 440ml cans and branded pint glasses.
• Ale Mixed Case (12-bottle bundle) A 12-bottle curated mixed case of premium Sussex-brewed ales, priced at £30.00 per case, for gifting or sampling the Hepworth range.
• WASE Collaboration Range (Electric Hop Pale Ale, Liquid Asset Lager, Botanic State Alcohol-Free Lager, Collaboration 3-Pack) A line of sustainability-focused collaboration beers (Electric Hop Pale Ale 3.5%, Liquid Asset Lager 4.0%, Botanic State Alcohol-Free Lager 0.5%) brewed using WASE's wastewater-to-energy system that converts brewery wastewater into renewable power to fuel production, available as individual SKUs or a 3-pack.
• Contract Brewing Partnership Service An end-to-end B2B contract brewing service covering brewing, packaging, warehousing and distribution for established and emerging beer brands, including initial consultation, specification development, dedicated account management and director oversight; backed by 30,000 brewers' barrels annual capacity, sterile cold filtration, gluten-free and organic specialisation, three smaller dedicated on-site brewing facilities, and bulk delivery up to 1,000 litres.
• Brewery Tours (Standard & Advanced) Guided behind-the-scenes tours of the Hepworth Brewery facility, priced at £20.00 (Standard) or £27.95 (Advanced) per person, the Advanced option including a gift bag of six Hepworth beers; offered on the first Saturday of each month and bookable in advance for visitors and enthusiasts.
• Gift Vouchers (£10 / £25 / £50 / £100) Denomination-based gift vouchers sold in £10, £25, £50 and £100 tiers, redeemable online and in-store for beer, merchandise and related products, valid for 1 year from purchase.
• Hepworth Beanie (Merchandise) A branded Hepworth Brewery beanie with embroidered logo, sold as part of the merchandise range via the website and taproom; reported as currently sold out at time of source.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% carbon neutral target by end of 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WASEcoreTechnology or IntegrationWASE's revolutionary system transforms brewery wastewater into clean, renewable power to help fuel Hepworth's production. This partnership creates a circular sustainability system where water, ingredients, and energy form a loop. Joint collaboration brews include Electric Hop (Pale Ale 3.5%), Liquid Asset (Lager 4.0%), Botanic State (Alcohol-Free Lager 0.5%), and a 3-pack collaboration bundle. WASE's technology helps power the very beer being produced.
• Coalition BrewingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContract brewing partner working with Hepworth for brewing, packing, warehousing and distribution. Will Parkes, Coalition Brewing, reports that working with Hepworth has always been a positive experience and they've helped grow their business significantly over the years thanks to consistently excellent service.
• UNLTD.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContract brewing partner for non-alcoholic beers. Johnny Johnson, UNLTD., reports that since working with Hepworth Brewery, the taste of their non-alcoholic beers has improved drastically and they have found their brewing home, looking forward to many more years working together.
• Bodiam HopsminorOthersAward-winning hops supplier from Bodium in Sussex. Hepworth uses these local hops and regularly walks the fields and talks through any issues with suppliers to ensure quality ingredients.
• Goodwood EstateminorOthersOrganic barley supplier from Goodwood in Sussex. Hepworth forward contracts their ingredients and is very specific about planting and harvesting to ensure best quality.
• The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA)minorOthersProfessional membership organisation for independent brewers.
• The Parliamentary All-Party Beer GroupminorOthersParliamentary group with professional membership supporting the beer industry.
• The Brewers' Livery CompanyminorOthersProfessional membership organisation for brewers.
• The Institute of Brewing and DistillingminorOthersProfessional membership organisation for brewing and distilling industry.
• Taste South EastminorOthersRegional food and drink association for South East England.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BrewDog: Largest UK craft brewer with a broad portfolio of beers, branded bars, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce. Closely comparable to Hepworth on craft credentials, multi-channel D2C model, and UK focus, though at much greater scale.
• Camden Town Brewery: London-based craft brewery (acquired by AB InBev) producing pale ales, lagers, and pilsners with strong on-trade and off-trade distribution. Comparable to Hepworth in UK craft positioning, branded taproom, and packaged retail play.
• Cloudwater Brew Co. Manchester-based craft brewery producing modern, hop-forward beers with strong taproom and direct-to-consumer presence. Comparable to Hepworth on premium craft positioning, taproom-led experience, and packaged retail.
• Theakston Brewery: Yorkshire-based independent family brewer producing cask, bottled, and packaged ales for UK on-trade and off-trade. Comparable to Hepworth on independent, family-controlled craft brewing with award-winning heritage portfolio.
• Thornbridge Brewery: Award-winning UK craft brewery producing a wide range of ales and lagers with national distribution and on-site taproom. Comparable to Hepworth on craft credentials, awards-led positioning, and diversified packaged and draught offering.
• Harviestoun Brewery: Scottish craft brewery with award-winning ales and lagers, distributed across UK on-trade and off-trade. Comparable to Hepworth on independent craft credentials, lager/pale ale portfolio, and packaged retail distribution.
• St Austell Brewery: Family-owned regional UK brewer with own-brand beers, contract brewing for other brands, and a tied estate of pubs. Comparable to Hepworth's mix of own-label production, third-party contract work, and on-site retail experience.
• Adnams Southwold: Independent regional UK brewer and distiller with own-brand beer and spirits, brewery tours, and on-site retail. Comparable to Hepworth on the family-owned, experience-led, multi-revenue-stream craft beverage model.
• Wiper and True: Bristol-based craft brewery focused on modern styles, sustainability, and direct sales via taproom and online shop. Comparable to Hepworth on craft credentials, sustainability messaging, and D2C e-commerce model.

Broad incumbents

• Molson Coors Beverage Company: Global brewer with significant UK operations and craft-style brands. Acts as a competitive backdrop and acquirer of independent craft brewers, shaping pricing, distribution, and listing dynamics that affect Hepworth's UK market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hepworthsbeer
• Facebookfacebook.com/hepworthbrewers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hepworth-brewery

Compliance4 records

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 Hepworth Brewery