A York brewery is set to grow under a new consortium of investors.
Award-winning brewery and taproom Ainsty Ales in Acaster Malbis has benefited from a six-figure investment from the group of local entrepreneurs.
Husband and wife team Stuart and Lyndsay Weston will be managing the business and become shareholders, alongside the new owners.
Last month Lyndsay told YorkMix she was moving on from running pubs.
Lyndsay, sales and operations director, said: “After 26 years in the pub trade, we’re really looking forward to living in a normal house!
“We’ve always lived either above a pub or next door. Both Stuart and I will use our vast experience in this industry to help drive the Ainsty Ales brand and business forward.”
Stuart, brewmaster at Ainsty Ales, added: “My wife Lyndsay and I have worked together for years and we’re so excited for this new opportunity to be part of an amazing brand like Ainsty Ales.”
Investors include local business owners Nick Ivel, Jon Greenwood, Sean Wilkinson, Ian Walker and Dave Smith. The consortium aims to grow the Ainsty Ales brand and continue its popular Friday evening taproom events in Acaster Malbis.
Ainsty Ales was set up by Andy Herrington in 2014. Andy explained why he had decided to leave the business in an article on YorkMix earlier this week.
New MD Jon said: “It was important to us that we keep this local business and taproom open and the investment secures its future growth.
“Local people and visitors alike enjoy the sense of community the taproom creates every Friday evening in Acaster Malbis.”
Nick Ivel added: “We’re grateful for everything Andy Herrington has done to grow the brand and for the local community and I’m happy he’s moving forward to pastures new to share his talent for marketing.
“I’ve lived in the village for over 20 years and this is an important local brand that we all want to see thrive.
“We’ve already invested in a fourth brewing vessel to increase brewing capacity and to ensure we can keep up with increasing demand.”
Stuart added: “Ainsty Ales haș a busy events schedule coming up, including supplying the pop-up Thor tent in York City Centre and at The Principal Hotel and we can’t wait to put our personal stamp on this already successful brand.”