Hawkes, the cider company co-owned by the team behind Barworks and The Diner, has been sold to BrewDog, MCA understands.
The craft cider producer, which is based in Bermodsey, is led by Peter and Simon Wright, with the Barworks trio of Marc Francis-Baum, Patrik Franzen and Andreas Akerlund also principal shareholders.
It is understood the deal was completed after MCA revealed this morning that BrewDog was looking to add a craft cider producer to its portfolio, and was running the rule over Hawkes.
The business has a cidery and taproom on Druid Street, and produces a signature dry apple cider, a mixed berry, an alcoholic ginger beer, a premium single variety sparkling cider, a spiced winter cider, and graff, a beer-cider hybrid.
The sale comes three after years after Francis-Baum, Franzen and Akerlund sold Camden Town Brewery, which they co-founded with Jasper Cuppaidge, for a total of £85m to AB InBev.
It follows BrewDog’s aquisition of the 14-strong Draft House estate earlier this month in a deal believed to value the brand at c£15m.
Hawkes’ taproom, on the famous ‘Bermondesy Beer Mile’ off Maltby Street Market, serves the producers’ flagship ciders, as well as a range of guest UK and world craft ciders.
It also produces a number of small-batch ciders on-site, with blends and barrel ageing, while stone-baked pizzas are designed to complement the ciders on draught.
Hawkes founder Simon Wright, a former Greene King and InBev marketing executive, said: “Cider has spent too long in the background and that needs to end now. In building London’s first urban ‘cidery’, we’ve created a place where people can fully immerse themselves in the true potential of cider, sample our world-class liquids and learn how to make, taste and enjoy this wonderful drink.
“The world of cider is so wonderful and diverse. That’s why we are calling on other cider makers to work with us to educate the masses on how they use their orchards and distinct fruit varieties to craft their own ciders.
“This is just the beginning and we look forward to welcoming the public to the Hawkes Cidery & Taproom to play their part in the cider revolution.”
