Love Lane Brewery Ltd enters administration, but Love Lane Brewery Bar & Kitchen continues

A popular Liverpool-based brewery which saw its beer served at the 151st Open golf tournament at Royal Liverpool over the summer has entered into administration.

Paul Stanley and Jason Greenhalgh of Begbies Traynor were appointed as Joint Administrators of Love Lane Brewery Limited on 5th October 2023.

Regional hospitality businesses and microbreweries in particular have experienced difficult trading conditions in recent times. The pandemic and other economic challenges including inflation, fuel price hikes and interest rate rises have hit the sector hard.

A spokesperson for Love Lane Brewery Ltd said:

“Unfortunately, the challenges for Love Lane Brewery Ltd have been too great and it is with a heavy heart that we announce Love Lane Brewery Ltd has today gone into administration.  This situation is made more frustrating after a considerable investment in the company in early 2023. Sadly, the business struggled to get back to the heights of pre-Covid sales.

“The business has made a significant impact and there are several conversations in play with potential purchasers and we would hope one of these will materialise quickly and for Love Lane products to get back on the shelves once more. 

“We are all bitterly disappointed with the situation we find ourselves in but would remind people that the operation of Love Lane Brewery Bar and Kitchen will remain unaffected.”

The bar at 62-64 Bridgewater Street in the Baltic Triangle will continue trading and all functions will take place as normal. Customers who have made bookings are currently being contacted to confirm arrangements.

Paul Stanley, regional managing partner of Begbies Traynor, added:

“This is a difficult time for the leisure and hospitality sector in general. Many small breweries have launched during the past decade and the craft beer industry was going strong until economic conditions dramatically  changed.

“More recently, as the majors have introduced their own corporate versions of craft beer onto the pumps, the smaller brewers are finding it even tougher to compete and we have seen a huge rise in the number of microbrewery businesses seeking financial help.

“We have mothballed the brewery whilst a buyer is sought. We are already speaking with potential purchasers and are working proactively to make a deal happen.”

Paul Stanley and Jason Greenhalgh of Begbies Traynor have carved a niche in the craft ale sector and have previously overseen the administrations of Liverpool Organic Brewery and Manchester-based Alphabet Brewing Company and Beatnikz Republic.