St Austell brewery has taken a 10 per cent share in the Harbour Brewing Co making the latter’s beer available to a much wider audience for the first time. 

Harbour Brewing’s founder Eddie Lofthouse said: “We’ve always had a fantastic relationship with St Austell. When we first started in 2012, it did our bottling before we had the equipment to do it ourselves, and the former brewing director Roger Ryman was a mentor and good friend. Since then, we’ve built strong relationships across the business, from the brewery team to the board, based on shared values of independence, quality and our connection to Cornwall.

“St Austell is a world-class brewer and the leading distributor in the South-West with a vast network of high-quality pubs and bars. Our new partnership means we can reach people all across our home county who otherwise may not have had the opportunity to try our beers.”

Harbour’s production will remain at its site in Kirland, close to Bodmin in Cornwall. The brewery’s whole range will be available to St Austell venues including its core beers such as Daymer pale ale, Big Wednesday IPA, and Arctic Sky cold IPA.

St Austell chief executive Kevin Georgel said: “The Harbour team has done an incredible job of building the brand over the past decade, and its beers are truly loved by those in the know. For us, this investment is representative of our desire to bring new beers to our customers, with a focus on craftsmanship and quality.

“We know Harbour’s brands will be popular in pubs and bars across our region and we can’t wait to work with the team, developing its great beers throughout our home county of Cornwall and the wider South-West.”

Harbour Brewing currently sells to pubs and restaurants throughout the UK, including the Hawksmoor Group, Blacklock, JKS Group, Tate Galleries, and Mitchells & Butlers, as well as Cornish hotspots Watergate Bay Hotel, Nancarrow Farm, and Nathan Outlaw. Harbour also has listings in several national supermarkets, including Morrisons.