Hesket Newmarket Brewery

Hesket Newmarket Brewery was founded in 1988 by Jim and Liz Fearnley in the picturesque village of Hesket Newmarket, on the northern edge of the Lake District National Park. The couple built their original brewhouse from scratch in a barn behind The Old Crown, the village pub they owned. Their first beer, Blencathra, was named after Jim's favourite Lakeland fell, establishing a tradition of naming beers after the mountains and landscapes of Cumbria. Another early creation, Doris' 90th Birthday Ale, celebrated Liz's mother. Initially brewed exclusively for The Old Crown, the beers quickly attracted real ale enthusiasts, and demand soon spread to other local pubs.

When Jim and Liz retired from brewing in 1999, the brewery faced the possibility of closure or acquisition by a larger business. Determined to preserve an important part of village life, a group of local residents and beer enthusiasts came together to purchase it. The Hesket Newmarket Brewery Co-operative was established, giving shareholders an equal stake in the business and a democratic voice in its future. Rather than focusing primarily on profit, the co-operative committed itself to protecting local employment, supporting community causes and continuing to produce quality independent beer. This pioneering approach to community ownership became one of the brewery's defining characteristics.

The community spirit behind the brewery inspired a similar initiative in 2003 when The Old Crown was put up for sale. A separate co-operative was formed to purchase the pub, preserving the village's only public house and creating what is believed to have been Britain's first co-operatively owned pub. The Old Crown remains the brewery's official tap, serving Hesket Newmarket ales and maintaining a close connection between the brewery and its customers. Although the brewery and pub operate as separate co-operatives, they share a commitment to keeping local institutions in community hands and celebrating the traditions of Cumbrian hospitality.

Over the following decades, Hesket Newmarket Brewery invested in new brewing equipment, temperature-controlled storage and expanded packaging facilities, introducing bottled and canned beers alongside its traditional cask range. Its beers continue to draw inspiration from the surrounding Lake District, with favourites including Black Sail, Peak Bagger IPA and Scafell Blonde. The brewery also produces seasonal releases, balancing traditional real ale brewing with changing tastes and modern styles. Today, around 100 co-operative members support the business, while a small dedicated team manages brewing, operations and distribution. As Cumbria's oldest surviving microbrewery, Hesket Newmarket remains a distinctive example of independent brewing sustained by the community it serves.