Completed sale
Quantock Brewery
Quantock Brewery, the Somerset craft brewery with more than 100 industry awards, has been acquired by Bristol-based hospitality group World Famous Dive Bars.
Established in 2007 and based in Bishops Lydeard, near Taunton, Quantock Brewery is known for craft beer, taproom culture and a broad range of styles. Its core range includes lager, IPA, bitter, porter and pale ale, supported by small-batch brews and specials.
The brewery has built a strong public-facing presence through its shop and taproom, where customers can experience its beers directly alongside events, street food and a busy venue setting. It has also developed a substantial trade operation, supplying restaurants, bars, sports venues and wholesale customers, with more than 250 active trade customers and distribution across the UK and internationally.
Recent investment in upgraded brewing and canning equipment has strengthened the brewery’s growth platform, improving efficiency and increasing production capacity. Quantock Brewery has also started to build an international footprint, dispatching its first shipment to Denmark in 2023 and its first shipment to Hong Kong in 2024.
Together, these factors helped present Quantock Brewery as a distinctive acquisition opportunity in the craft beer market: an established name with award-winning products, trade relationships, production capability, consumer channels and a taproom presence.
The company was brought to market by Urquhart Brothers, which acquired Quantock Brewery in 2022 and supported its next stage of development. The sale allows the shareholders to focus on their other business interests, while placing the brewery with a buyer already active in hospitality and venue operation.
Knightsbridge positioned the opportunity around Quantock Brewery’s reputation, customer channels, production base and scope for further growth. The sale attracted 45 interested parties and multiple offers, ultimately achieving a highly significant fee.
World Famous Dive Bars is led by Marc Griffiths and operates a number of South West venues and associated projects. The group also has existing links to beer-led hospitality, with Good Chemistry Brewing and its taproom forming part of the wider WFDB family.
This made the acquisition a natural fit for a buyer looking to expand its current operation, while giving Quantock Brewery a new owner with direct experience in hospitality, venues and customer experience.
The buyer was identified through Knightsbridge’s existing buyer network. Commercial Executive Helen Bainbridge handled the transaction through to completion, with Regional Commercial Director Martin Baars representing the opportunity.
The transaction gives World Famous Dive Bars an established, award-winning brewery with trade channels, a taproom, production capacity and a recognised brand. It also allows the shareholders of Urquhart Brothers to step away knowing Quantock Brewery has been placed with a buyer rooted in the hospitality sector.
The Knightsbridge team wishes the shareholders every success with their other business interests, and every success to World Famous Dive Bars as it takes Quantock Brewery forward.