Internationally claimed Moorhouse’s Brewery of Burnley has unveiled a super-sized tribute to its home town as the historic brewery undergoes a £4.2m transformation.

A colourful heritage banner, measuring 180ft in length and 25ft in height, now covers the frontage of the 145 year-old brewery as a new brewing complex is built alongside. The development will triple production capacity and include a visitor centre and training school.

Proclaiming ‘famous witches and award-winning beers’ the ‘wrap’ displays local landmarks including the iconic Singing Ringing Tree and the imposing Pendle Hill, visible from miles around. The famous Pendle Hill was once home to the legendary witches that inspired the award-winning cask ales: Black Cat, Pendle Witches Brew, Pride of Pendle and Blond Witch beers.

Cheers to the future of Burnley and Moorhouse's - MD David Grant raises a toast.

Rapidly growing business with national pub companies, a sales push for bottled beers in America, and new contracts in the south of England, have led to Moorhouse’s Brewery enjoying their second consecutive double figure increase in annual turnover, despite difficult trading conditions.

David Grant, managing director of Moorhouse’s, said: “We are expanding our brewery three-fold, doubling our workforce, and adding a visitor centre too – this is our investment in Burnley. But with this wrap, I wanted to show our pride in Burnley.”
“The town has so much to offer: beautiful countryside; outstanding heritage, businesses willing to get behind the town, and great people. It is a place full of great stories, many of which are now being told across the Atlantic too.”
“Much of our present success is down to traits defined by previous generations: those who led Burnley to the top of the industrial world; those who believed in hard work, in taking opportunities when presented, and who were passionate about Burnley… just as William Moorhouse was in 1865 and I am in 2010. This banner reflects this pride.”

Moorhouse’s is one of the founders of the Burnley Bondholder scheme, a group of pioneering organisations committed to promoting the area and attracting investment. The banner, on an important gateway into the town, seeks to promote positive change and influence perceptions of those who visit the area.

David Grant added: “We all have a role to play in Burnley’s future: businesses and the council are showing leadership. I am investing, creating jobs and with this banner, hopefully, showing the people of Burnley how proud Moorhouse’s is to be a part of the town’s future.”

Lancashire’s famous Moorhouse’s Brewery has seen the dawn of a new era for the 144 year old business as work commences on an ambitious £3.5m brewing complex.

To mark the historic occasion chairman Bill Parkinson cut the first sod on the 5,000 square metre site with the help of an earth loader (see photograph). Founder of the Manchester based world-wide lifting gear business the LGH Group plc, Mr Parkinson bought the then ailing Burnley brewery in the eighties ‘because he liked the beer’.

On completion the state-of-the-art brewery will triple current brewing capacity for the world beating Pendle Witches cask-conditioned brews to some 1000 barrels per week. Both a training school and visitor centre are included in the investment, which will help in the regeneration of the former mill town while also doubling the current brewery workforce.

The first sod is in the bucket at Moorhouse's - L-R MD David Grant; Richard Cryer, MD Watergate Contractors; Bill Parkinson, Moorhouse's chairman.

The £1.8m phase one, comprising new brew-house and warehousing, is now scheduled for commissioning next summer. Stage two will see new offices, visitor centre and training school erected on the site of the present Moorhouse Street brewery, built in 1870 by William Moorhouse as he expanded his drinks business.  Finally, the existing administration centre and warehouse will be cleared for car parking with completion planned for early 2011. Main contractor for the development is Watergates of Wakefield and brewing equipment contracts have been agreed with leading industry suppliers.

David Grant, Moorhouse’s managing director, said: “Last year the directors took the bold decision to go ahead despite the recession. There have been some unforeseen red tape delays, but now it is all systems go. Cutting the first sod was a true red letter day for our chairman, who continued to believe in the brewery despite difficult times in the past.

Bill Parkinson said: “This is a tremendously exciting time. The brewery struggled throughout the nineties but in recent years sales have grown at 17 per cent year-on-year. This ambitious investment is a very strong pledge of confidence in that success and, more generally, in the future for cask ale.”

Moorhouse’s directly supplies several hundred freehouse’s and pub company outlets in the North West and Yorkshire while the beers are also distributed nationally via leading wholesalers and major pub chains. Over the coming months discounted rates are being offered on the popular brewery tours to Camra groups wishing to visit the original Moorhouse Street brewery before it is replaced.

Moorhouse’s, the North West’s largest dedicated cask-ale brewer, is set to start work on a new £3.5m brewing complex in the New Year.

With the final plans now approved by Burnley Borough Council, the first sod will be cut on a 5,000 square metre site in January – despite the present economic downturn.

The new complex will triple current brewing capacity for the famous Pendle Witches brews to some 900 barrels a week. Both a training school and visitor centre are included in the investment, which will contribute to the council’s regeneration plans for Burnley while doubling the current brewery workforce.

The £1.8m phase one, comprising new brew-house and warehousing, is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2009. Stage two will see new offices, visitor centre and training school erected on the site of the present Moorhouse Street brewery – built in 1870 by William Moorhouse as he expanded the drinks business he founded nearby five years earlier.* Finally the existing administration centre and warehouse will be cleared for car parking, with completion planned for spring 2010.

Moorhouse's New Brewery; visual of the £3.5m scheme.

David Grant, Moorhouse’s managing director, said: “Following years of planning, the directors have taken this bold decision to go ahead despite the current economic recession. In recent years we have consistently broken all sales records year-on-year. This ambitious investment is a very strong pledge of confidence in that success.

“While brewing and pubs are taking a severe beating from high taxes, the smoking ban and the recession, all industry evidence points to a very positive future for well crafted cask-conditioned ale. Good pubs with a strong cask offer will survive. With a new major regional brewery, in 2010 our celebrated brands will be even better placed to play a big part in that future.”

Moorhouse’s directly supplies several hundred freehouse’s and pub company outlets in the North West and Yorkshire while the beers are also distributed nationally via leading wholesalers and major pub chains.