[UK] BrewDog in administration with £190m debts including £489k unpaid wages and holiday pay

In the UK, the BrewDog pub chain has collapsed into administration with £190m of debts, including £489k unpaid wages and accrued holiday pay, Oxford Mail reports.

Some creditors of beer company BrewDog’s retail arm are not expected to receive anything from its administration. A report from administrators AlixPartners stated that there were “insufficient funds” to pay out creditors owed money when the company collapsed.

The £190 million figure reportedly includes debts related to unpaid wages and accrued holiday pay of £489,000 in the retail arm of the business.

Workers who lost their jobs when BrewDog’s retail company collapsed were compensated under the redundancy payments scheme. This sum is owed to the government.

Earlier this year, US drinks firm Tilray purchased the BrewDog brand, intellectual property, UK breweries and 11 bars in a £33 million rescue deal.

During the administration process, BrewDog closed 36 bars, affecting almost 500 workers, before Tilray came on board. Its branch in Oxford's Cowley Road closed in mid-2025.

The takeover deal also rendered the shares of about 200,000 crowdfunding investors worthless.

The administrators’ report into Brewdog PLC and its retail arm states that around £489,000 is owed in relation to retail employee wage arrears and accrued holiday pay.

A further £2.4 million is owed to HMRC for unpaid VAT.

According to the report, there are now “insufficient funds available” to allow for a distribution to these “preferential creditors” due to a “reduced level of realisations” for the retail business and increased costs during the administration period.

The report stated that those made redundant were provided with information on government support.

In addition, Brewdog PLC reportedly owes around £190 million to unsecured creditors who are expected to receive less than a penny in the pound of what they are owed.

Brewdog’s new owners have yet to comment.

Source: Oxford Mail

In the UK, the BrewDog pub chain has collapsed into administration with £190m of debts, including £489k unpaid wages and accrued holiday pay, Oxford Mail reports.

Some creditors of beer company BrewDog’s retail arm are not expected to receive anything from its administration. A report from administrators AlixPartners stated that there were “insufficient funds” to pay out creditors owed money when the company collapsed.

The £190 million figure reportedly includes debts related to unpaid wages and accrued holiday pay of £489,000 in the retail arm of the business.

Workers who lost their jobs when BrewDog’s retail company collapsed were compensated under the redundancy payments scheme. This sum is owed to the government.

Earlier this year, US drinks firm Tilray purchased the BrewDog brand, intellectual property, UK breweries and 11 bars in a £33 million rescue deal.

During the administration process, BrewDog closed 36 bars, affecting almost 500 workers, before Tilray came on board. Its branch in Oxford's Cowley Road closed in mid-2025.

The takeover deal also rendered the shares of about 200,000 crowdfunding investors worthless.

The administrators’ report into Brewdog PLC and its retail arm states that around £489,000 is owed in relation to retail employee wage arrears and accrued holiday pay.

A further £2.4 million is owed to HMRC for unpaid VAT.

According to the report, there are now “insufficient funds available” to allow for a distribution to these “preferential creditors” due to a “reduced level of realisations” for the retail business and increased costs during the administration period.

The report stated that those made redundant were provided with information on government support.

In addition, Brewdog PLC reportedly owes around £190 million to unsecured creditors who are expected to receive less than a penny in the pound of what they are owed.

Brewdog’s new owners have yet to comment.

Source: Oxford Mail