Unity Brewing announces plans to close

Unity Brewing, based in Southampton, is set to close due to challenges that have made it “impossible” for the business to continue.

Unity Brewing owner Jimmy Hatherley, who set up Unity in Portswood in 2016 before expanding it in 2019 to a bigger brewing site in Northam in 2019, told Beer Today, that it is “heartbreaking to have to close Unity”.

Lamenting about the situation, Hatherley explained: “Unfortunately, the terrible combination of Covid, Brexit, and the cost of living crisis have made it impossible for us to operate without making a loss every month.”

Unity, which has won multiple awards for its beer and has sold both nationwide and internationally as well as having hosted its own beer festivals, is best known for its flagship Conflux pale ale.

Hatherley admitted: “I am absolutely gutted to close the shutters on Unity for the last time, but I will always be so proud of everything we created together.”

The Unity Bottleshop and Tasting Room, located in Bedford Place in Southampton will undergo a rebrand and continue to operate as a craft beer, natural wine, and no-/low-alcohol drinks retailer.

Additionally, Unity shareholders with a discount card will still be entitled to their shareholder discount on all purchases at the bottleshop.

Hatherley has said he now plans to develop a new brewing project and will help reveal more details in the spring.

Meanwhile, the bottleshop will host a ‘Farewell to Unity’ party on Saturday, 25 February, from noon to 10pm for fans of the brewery’s beers.