Brewdog News: Almost 500 Brits Set To Lose Their Jobs After American Firm Tilray Takes Over

Nearly 500 British jobs are set to be lost at BrewDog after the BrewDog Tilray takeover by American firm Tilray Brands. The US cannabis and drinks group has bought the Scottish craft brewer's brand, intellectual property, brewing operations and 11 strategic bars for £33 million ($44.3 million).

The agreement preserves 733 positions but results in the immediate closure of 38 bars and the loss of 484 roles. The rescue deal comes after BrewDog entered administration amid mounting losses and failed attempts to find a buyer for the entire business.

BrewDog's Slide into Administration

BrewDog, founded in Aberdeenshire in 2007, rose to prominence with its punk branding and beers such as Punk IPA. The company had been battling financial difficulties for years. It posted losses of nearly £37 million ($49.7 million) last year, with sales growth grinding to a halt at just 1 per cent.

The brewer had already shut 10 of its own bars in 2025 and seen its products axed from 2,000 pubs. When administrators AlixPartners were brought in last month, several potential buyers expressed interest. Yet no offer materialised that could have saved the whole operation.

'No offer was made at any stage of the sales process, from any prospective bidder, which would have preserved BrewDog in its entirety,' the administrators stated. More than 200,000 crowdfunders from the Equity for Punks scheme will walk away empty-handed.

The Human Cost of the BrewDog Tilray takeover

The decision to close 38 bars will have an immediate impact on staff across the UK and Ireland. Many employees discovered the news through media outlets rather than official briefings. Unite union was quick to condemn the process.

'Nearly 500 livelihoods have been wiped out while yet another corporate deal is stitched together behind closed doors,' it said. The union pointed to 'catastrophic mismanagement' as the root cause.

Local MP Harriet Cross described the redundancies as disastrous. 'My immediate thoughts go to the hardworking staff who have been impacted by this through no fault of their own,' she added. She has sought assurances from Tilray that brewing will stay in Scotland. The Hop Hub distribution centre in Motherwell and the main brewery in Ellon will move to Tilray control. Eighteen franchise operations will continue unaffected.

Tilray's Vision for the Future

Tilray Brands views the acquisition as a strategic boost to its craft beer operations. Chairman and chief executive Irwin D Simon highlighted the potential. 'Our priority is to refocus BrewDog on the craft beer excellence that made it beloved in the first place and strategically invest to return the operations to profitable growth. BrewDog's future is bright,' he said.

The stvnews Instagram account posted the following regarding BrewDog and Tilray, confirming the deal covers the global brand and UK operations while separate talks proceed for assets in the US and Australia.

As the BrewDog Tilray takeover takes effect, the focus shifts to supporting those affected by the job losses and ensuring the surviving operations thrive under new ownership. With production set to still remain in Scotland, there is cautious optimism that the craft brewer's legacy can endure despite the significant changes.