The famous ‘Pendle Witches’ beers from Moorhouse’s in Lancashire are weaving their spell on cask ale enthusiasts across the nation’s capital.
New business wins with leading pub company outlets and quality free trade accounts in London and the south east are making a strong contribution to the current 10 per cent overall annual growth rate for the ‘north west’s newest regional’*.
And now, to mark the 150th anniversary year, the much acclaimed ales – including Blond Witch, Black cat, Pride of Pendle and Pendle Witches Brew – are being bolstered with new consumer friendly branding featuring taste notes.**
Following a well attended ‘Moorhouse’s Showcase Event’ for London licensees at the Bree Louise Ale, Cider and Pie House, Euston, h) managing director David Grant said: “We have seen a real surge in our sales during the past year with our witch ales particularly beguiling the southern drinker as we reach out to publicans round London and the south east.
“Quality account wins in the heart of London mean our beers now have increased stature on the national stage – and indeed exposure to an international audience in the capital’s premier cask-ale pubs such as the Porterhouse in Covent Garden and the much Camra praised Bree Louise ale house.
“A recent agreement to source the crucial quality Maris Otter barley for our ales from north west farmers will further boost the Lancashire provenance of our brands – all backed by our outstanding reputation for quality, security of supply and sales support. And our new branding, complete with tasting notes, will make it easier for publicans to sell our beers.”
National accounts controller Mark Boardman has spearheaded the southern sales growth. Moorhouse’s is one of only a handful of brewers in the country to gain the prestigious Distributor Charter Award from quality watchdog Cask Marque, which recognises the best practice in distribution operations.
Ends/MHPR- London sales Feb 2015 (2)
Photograph caption: It’s Magic – (L-R) Bree Louise licensee Craig Douglas pulls a pint with witch girl Bethany Cammack and Moorhouse’s MD David Grant.
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Notes to editors:
*For the financial year to September 2014 Moorhouse’s reported a record £5m plus turnover. In 2011 a £4.5m new brewing complex was launched to treble brewing capacity and business has grown year-on-year since then.
**2015 sees the 150th anniversary of the company, which started life as a manufacturer of mineral waters and then low alcohol beers for the ‘abstinence’ market in the late 19th and early 20th century. Full strength brewing began in the 1970s and Manchester businessman Bill Parkinson bought the brewery ‘because he liked the beer’ in the mid 1980s.
Moorhouse’s five core brands are: Premier Bitter (3.7%), Blond Witch (4.5%), Black Cat (3.4%)- former Camra Supreme Champion Beer of Britain – Pride of Pendle(4.1%) – formerChampion Cask Ale Trophy Brewing Industry International Awards – and the premier Pendle Witches Brew (5.1%.). Special ales such as White Witch and Cold Spell are also available each month. Moorhouse’s brands are themed around the story of the ill-fated ‘witches’ who roamed the landmark Pendle Hill near Burnley in the early 17th century .It supplies several hundred free trade customers through the North of England, while the brands are also distributed nationally via leading wholesalers and pub companies.
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Steve Hobman, Rhino Public Relations: 07751 578605. Email: shobman@rhinopr.freeserve.co.uk