Craft beer retailers across the UK are being invited to join the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) in an effort to create closer ties between brewers and bottleshops, as well as offer these specialist retailers representation and support.
Membership is open to independent bottleshops and beer retailers across the UK. It provides a range of benefits, including a free legal helpline, legislative support and advice, networking, and promotional opportunities.
“SIBA have introduced this new membership category to build on the relationships we built with bottleshop owners looking for advice and guidance regarding various issues over the last few years,” said Neil Walker, SIBA’s head of communications, “particularly during periods of Covid lockdown where we fought for bottleshops and brewery shops to be allowed to remain open as essential retailers.”
Bottleshop membership is the final launch of three new SIBA membership categories as part of a remit expansion for the trade association, which represents independent breweries and supplier companies, and this year broadened its membership to include international breweries and UK-based homebrewers.
There has been a huge growth in independent beer shops in recent years, with many offering new local delivery and subscription services during Covid, as people sought to support local independent businesses.
Linda Birch, of Brewery Market, in Twickenham, said: “We are delighted to be one of the first businesses to become a SIBA bottleshop member and are fully behind SIBA’s move to bring the independent craft beer industry closer together. We work closely with a huge range of breweries and look forward to engaging more with them to shape the beer industry for the better.
“On a business level, the support and member benefits SIBA offer are hugely valuable and for us it’s a no-brainer to become a member. We will be encouraging other beer shops to do the same. I also look forward to working with SIBA to deliver even more opportunities and benefits for us and other members in the future.”
A Hoppy Place, a craft beer bottleshop and tasting room with outlets in Windsor and Maidenhead, Berkshire, saw SIBA’s support through Covid as a huge benefit and is also joining as a founding bottleshop member.
Co-owner Dave Hayward said: “We are a relatively new business, launching August 2019. Through the Covid lockdowns we’ve seen the huge benefits SIBA has brought to the sector, battling for the necessary grants and support our industry needed to survive.
“As a business we took impetus from their work, as well as learning from their panels, and went on to win the UK’s best independent craft beer retailer (single) category in 2021. We are sure the health of the bottleshop sector is better as a result of SIBA’s efforts, and are proud to join as one of their founder bottleshop category members.”
