BrewDog to close 38 bars, as cannabis producer buys brand

Tilray, one of the leading companies in the production, development and research of medicinal cannabis, has acquired the BrewDog brand for £33m.

This transaction follows a BrewDog-led strategic review and subsequent sales process conducted by AlixPartners, which was initially announced on 14 February 2026.

The deal sees Tilray acquire BrewDog’s UK-based brewing and distribution facilities (specifically the brewery in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, and The Hop Hub, a national distribution centre in Motherwell, Lanarkshire), and its extensive brand portfolio, as well as 11 existing BrewDog retail units in the UK and Ireland.

A total of 38 bars in the UK will close with immediate effect, leading to 484 redundancies, while the transaction preserves 733 jobs in the UK, where BrewDog employees will follow a TUPE process to become employees of Tilray Brands UK Ltd. 

BrewDog’s 18 franchise bars in the UK and internationally continue to operate. Tilray says it is separately negotiating to acquire certain BrewDog assets in the United States and Australia.

AlixPartners says that no offer was made at any stage of the sales process, from any prospective bidder, which would have preserved BrewDog in its entirety. There will be no return to any equity holders, including that granted under the Equity for Punks scheme.

"BrewDog is one of the most iconic, mission-driven craft beer brands in the UK," says Irwin D. Simon, chairman and chief executive officer of Tilray Brands. "It helped redefine modern craft beer through bold innovation, fearless creativity and an unwavering commitment to great beer. What makes BrewDog truly special has always been its brewers, its brewpubs and its passionate community of beer fans. As we begin a new chapter for this great brand, our priority is to refocus BrewDog on the craft beer excellence that made it beloved in the first place and strategically invest to return the operations to profitable growth. BrewDog’s future is bright, and we are committed to ensuring the brand continues to lead and inspire the global craft beer movement."

Craft beer background

As well as being known for its work with medicinal cannabis, Tilray has built a beverage portfolio spanning craft beer, spirits, energy drinks, water and emerging categories. The business says expanding its established US beverage brands into international markets is a strategic priority and a natural next phase of growth. 

Its portfolio includes 10 Barrel Brewing, Alpine Beer, Blue Point Brewing Company, Casa Breck, Green Flash Brewing Company, Hi*Ball Energy, Hop Valley Brewing Co., Mountain Shot, Redhook Brewery, Square Mile Cider, SweetWater Brewery, Terrapin Beer and Widmer Brothers, among others. 

Under the terms of the transaction, Tilray has acquired BrewDog’s worldwide intellectual property, UK brewing operations and a portfolio of "11 premier and profitable brewpubs" including Birmingham, Canary Wharf, Dogtap Ellon, Dublin, Edinburgh DogHouse, Lothian Road, Manchester, Paddington, Seven Dials, Tower Hill and Waterloo (pictured). 

AlixPartners says it has engaged specialist outside support to ensure that all those affected can access the help and information they need at this difficult time.

Part of this support will be to assist redundant employees in the application of claims for any outstanding monies arising from the bar closures.

Additionally, the administration team has been in contact with, and continues to invite engagement from, other leisure operators in the UK to identify employment opportunities elsewhere in the sector.

"As one would expect over the past two weeks, we have received significant interest in the BrewDog business from prospective buyers across both the trade and investment communities," says Clare Kennedy, a partner and managing director at AlixPartners. "In Tilray, we have secured a purchaser with a passion for craft brewing who will be an excellent custodian and sponsor of the business in the months and years ahead. 

"Having done so, our priority now is to support, to the fullest extent possible, those people whose roles have been made redundant, and we would ask operators within the UK leisure sector who are in a position to assist to contact us at any time."

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