All BrewDog bars closed for day as firm looks to complete sale

Still based in Aberdeenshire, BrewDog has grown into a brand with a global presence.

All of BrewDog’s bars will be closed today (Monday 2 March) as the firm looks to complete the sale of the business.

Last month it was announced that the business could be broken up after consultants AlixPartners were called in to help look for new investors. This news came off the back of the business closing its Ellon distillery as it exited the spirits market.

Sign up to our free Scran food and drink newsletter here

Founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie, BrewDog has breweries and pubs around the world including around 60 in the UK.

BrewDog shook up the craft beer industry with its signature brews but announced job cuts across the business last October after it posted a £37 million loss

Chief executive James Taylor confirmed the bar closures in an email to staff, writing: “We appreciate this is an unsettling time for everyone, and we want to ensure that all colleagues have the opportunity to hear directly from us about what happens next.

“We will therefore be holding a series of company-wide All Hands calls tomorrow (Monday) for all employees across the whole business. These will be scheduled tomorrow.

“To enable everyone to attend, and to comply with licensing issues arising from an anticipated change of ownership, we have taken the decision that none of our bars will open tomorrow (Monday). All sites will remain closed for the day.

“We have also cancelled food and beer deliveries, as well as customer bookings, for that day.”

The news comes just months after managing director of distilling, Steven Kersely, left the business, which followed on from the departure of BrewDog co-founder and BrewDog distilling CEO Martin Dickie in August 2025.

His decision to leave the business came just a month after it was announced that BrewDog would be closing ten bars, including their flagship venue in Aberdeen - the site of their first bar.

BrewDog announced job cuts across the business last October after it posted a £37 million loss. In 2024 BrewDog faced backlash after it announced it’d no longer be paying employees the living wage. The firm has also faced controversy around former co-founder James Watt, who is rumoured to be planning to buy back control of the business.

Mr Watt stepped down as CEO in 2024 after several reports and a BBC investigation into inappropriate behavior.

Read more: BrewDog: What the future holds now for Scotland’s beer-making unicorn

Read more: Scotland-based brewer Brewdog could be broken up as sale process begins

Read more: BrewDog to close Aberdeenshire distillery as brand exits spirits market