The owners of Little Valley Brewery have announced the sale of the brand to fellow Yorkshire business Great Newsome Brewery.
Left to right: James Hodgson, Wim van der Spek, Donna Hodgson, Matthew Hodgson, and Sue Cooper. Photograph: Jerome Ellerby
“We’re delighted to pass on the baton to another family-owned Yorkshire brewery,” said Little Valley owners Wim van der Spek and Sue Cooper.
“What impressed us about Great Newsome was their enthusiasm and commitment to ensuring that the Little Valley brand remains organic. As one of the very few organic beer producers in the UK, it’s great to know our legacy will continue.”
Little Valley, based in Cragg Vale, West Yorkshire, was set up in 2005 by Dutch master brewer Wim and his English partner, Sue, who met while cycling in South Asia and the Middle East.
Little Valley quickly became known among beer lovers for its continental slant on all things beer, from wheat beers to saisons, as well as the stalwarts of the range: Tod’s Blonde, Python IPA, Withens Pale, and Stoodley Stout.
Matthew Hodgson, director at East Yorkshire-based Great Newsome Brewery, said: “We are extremely excited to be carrying on the great work that Wim and Sue have done. Little Valley is known for its bottled beer range, available in retailers throughout the north of England.
“At Great Newsome, a greater proportion of our business is sales of our established cask beer range, so we believe that the addition of the Little Valley brand will work very well.
“Our intention is for it to be business as usual for fans and customers of Little Valley Brewery beers. The whole Great Newsome Brewery team is looking forward to brewing the fantastic Little Valley beers with the same passion that both Wim and Sue have.”
Great Newsome is an award-winning microbrewery based on the Hodgson family farm in Winestead, near Hull. Winners of multiple World Beer Awards, the brewery showcases the best of British beer styles, with brews such as Sleck Dust, Pricky Back Otchan, and Frothingham Best.
