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Scottish craft beer company BrewDog has closed all of its bars for the day today (2 March 2026), with an announcement regarding the sale of the business expected early this week.
The brewer appointed consultant firm AlixPartners last month following a turbulent period marked by continued losses and a significant restructuring of its operations.
According to BBC News, an internal email sent to the group’s workforce by chief executive James Taylor has now confirmed that all bars will remain closed for the day to comply with licensing issues related to an anticipated change in ownership.
The company was founded in 2007 by James Watt, who stepped down as CEO in 2024, and Martin Dickie, who left the business last year. It operates breweries and bars across Europe, the US and Asia, with around 60 venues in the UK.
Last month, BrewDog revealed it would cease production of spirits at its distillery in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, in a move to simplify operations and sharpen its focus on beer and RTD cocktails.
Ongoing financial challenges also saw the company close ten of its UK bars in 2025, in addition to hundreds of pubs delisting its flagship Punk IPA beer. The company announced job cuts last year following a £37 million loss in 2024, its fifth consecutive annual pre-tax loss.
Though the brewer saw notable success at the height of the craft beer boom around 2017, it has since faced a series of challenges maintaining commercial viability as growth across the sector has slowed significantly, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The brand has also faced controversy surrounding allegations of a ‘toxic’ workplace culture, with current chief executive Taylor undergoing efforts to restore the company’s reputation over the last couple of years.
James Howell, managing director at corporate law firm Rubric Law, said BrewDog's decision to appoint advisers and run a competitive process is "about value discovery and deal certainty, not just finding a buyer".
"Looking at BrewDog specifically, the triggers here appear investor-led and performance-driven rather than growth-driven," Howell commented. "That changes the dynamic – buyers will focus heavily on margin resilience, liabilities, lease exposure and operational efficiency, not just brand strength. I’ve seen plenty of deals where brand alone cannot bridge gaps in fundamentals."
He warned that weak readiness is a key legal risk in such processes, with issues in due diligence having the potential to quickly affect valuation and derail momentum.
"That risk is amplified where there is a large shareholder base, as alignment mechanics and drag provisions suddenly become critical to execution," he added. "For founders and SME owners watching this play out, my view is simple: strong exits are engineered, not improvised. The businesses that achieve the best outcomes in M&A are the ones that prepare before they ever launch a process."
Further news on the sale's completion is now expected shortly, with Sky News reporting that Magners cider owner C&C Group and Danish brewing group Royal Unibrew are among the interested parties.
