BrewDog eyes world domination with global expansion – but Fife pub boss bites back
Independent craft brewer BrewDog has announced plans for a raft of new openings including South Korea, Iceland and Spain, but the proclamation of a Fife venue has been questioned by the pub's current owner who said no deal has been reached.
Co-founders James Watt and Martin Dickie made the announcement to more than 8,000 Equity Punk investors at its Annual General Mayhem meeting in Aberdeen.
In total the company plans to open 17 bars in 2018: six in Scotland, four in England, and seven around the rest of the world, including two in BrewDog's US hometown of Columbus, Ohio, and one each in France and Sweden (see full list below).
But, the boss of one of the pubs in Fife has called the craft brewery bosses "arrogant" and said no agreement has been reached.
Colin Donaldson, owner of Rascals Bar in St Andrews, told The Courier: "There have been a few interested parties, including BrewDog. I have not accepted or declined any offer at this time.
"BrewDog's lawyer is on the phone every day and is well aware that we have not accepted their offer."
Watt and Dickie also updated the delegates at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre on the company's financial results in 2017, which are expected to be filed with Companies House in June.
Sales increased by 78% and overall revenue rose by 55% on 2016, they said.
BrewDog reported an annual turnover of £21.7m for the year ended 31 December 2016 along with a pre-tax loss of £1.2m.
The company announced its acquisition of London-based cidery Hawkes this week and last month it confirmed it had bought the Draft House pub group for an undisclosed sum.
Earlier this year BrewDog revealed plans to enter the UK hotel market with a 22-bedroom DogHouse at its headquarters in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
BrewDog bar openings scheduled for 2018
Scotland:
Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
Peterhead, Aberdeenshire
Perth
St. Andrews
Glasgow (the site will feature ten pilot homebrewing kits where visitors can try their hands at brewing beer)
Edinburgh Airport
England:
Manchester
Brixton, London
Essex Road, London
Tower Hill, London (opening in late April)
Rest of the world:
Franklinton, Columbus, Ohio. USA (opening this Spring)
Short North, Columbus, Ohio. USA (opening this Spring)
Seoul, South Korea
Paris, France
Barcelona Airport, Spain
Norrkoping, Sweden
Reykjavik, Iceland
BrewDog acquires craft cider company Hawkes >>