ANDREW WARBURTON – Director
Where do you live: Waddington, near Clitheroe
How long have you been with Bowland Brewery? 10 years
What attracted you to a career in the brewing sector? I’ve been involved in the hospitality industry since leaving school, working across the UK and overseas and managing two of my own pubs where traditional, independent cask ales were a major part of the offer. So when the amazing opportunity to manage a brewery came along, I had to seize it with both hands.
What qualifications do you have or are working towards? I studied hospitality at Nelson & Colne College and Hotel Management and Catering at Blackpool & the Fylde college after leaving school.
Have you worked for other brewers? I worked for Matthew Brown in Blackburn after college for two years.
What makes Bowland Brewery and its products special? First and foremost, it’s a family concern and we have a very close-knit team who all pull in the same direction. The products come first and we always prioritise quality over cost, using only the finest ingredients without compromise. Bowland Brewery has always taken an innovative approach to brewing, being one of the first local brewers to develop a new generation of lighter, more refreshing golden ales which appealed to a wider spectrum of palates. Larger brewers have since followed that lead, but we’d like to think that ground-breaking ales like Hen Harrier and Boxer played their part in introducing a new generation of drinkers to the delights of traditional cask ale.
What’s the best aspect of your job? It’s a privilege to be involved in the entire process – from brewing the beers and developing new products to seeing customers appreciate them in the brewery tap next to the brewery. Over the last 10 years, we’ve extended the range from a handful of ales to a core range of six with several seasonal ales and limited editions throughout the year. We’ve also expanded the distribution four-fold – stretching from Cumbria, across to York and down to Chester, with our range of bottled ales now on sale nationwide.
Most memorable beer experience? It has to be serving the first pint of Hen Harrier from the new brewing kit which we installed after relocating the brewery to the historic Holmes Mill in Clitheroe in 2017. This represented a huge investment in scaling up the brewing operation without compromising the quality of the products and I still get a huge sense of pride whenever I see customers making the connection between what goes on through the plate glass window onto the brewery and the pint in their hand in the beer hall.
If you were to order a taster flight in Bowland Beer Hall, which three Bowland Ales would you choose? Hen Harrier, Boxer Blonde and whatever seasonal ale we have on tap at the time.
What’s your favourite Bowland limited edition beer? I enjoy tasting the different styles of seasonal ales and limited editions, but I’m a creature of habit and when you simply want a nice refreshing, classic golden ale, I really don’t think Hen Harrier can be beaten.
Favourite delivery route? Over Waddington Fell, along the Hodder Valley from Newton to Dunsop Bridge and through the Trough of Bowland to Lancaster – truly one of the most scenic drives in the whole of England.
Favourite view in the Forest of Bowland? Descending the northern side of Waddington Fell into Newton.
Favourite pub in Bowland area? The Waddington Arms. It was the first pub I managed back in the 1990s and it still has a very special place in my heart.
natalie walsh – Office Manager
Where do you live: Clitheroe
How long have you been with Bowland Brewery? Eight years.
What attracted you to a career in the brewing sector? I’ve been in the brewing or hospitality sectors in some form for more than 30 years. I’d escaped the industry for a while, but I was approached by the senior team at Bowland Brewery and they persuaded me to return to the industry and since then I’ve never looked back.
What brewing qualifications do you have or are you working towards? I have customer services and managerial qualifications, I also used to be on the tasting panel at Daniel Thwaites and we received training on how to spot the special characteristics of different styles of beer, which gave me a good understanding of the brewing process and how different beers appeal to different palates.
Have you worked for other brewers? Scottish & Newcastle and Daniel Thwaites.
What makes Bowland Brewery and its products special? Bowland Brewery is pretty much unique in its approach to brewing these days. It’s family run and it still feels more like a traditional local brewery with established values with an innovative and forward-thinking outlook.
What’s the best aspect of your job? The brewing and hospitality sector is still very much a ‘people’ industry and I love meeting such a wide variety of people and building relationships with them. I genuinely believe this people-first approach has been pivotal to expanding the business over the last decade.
Most memorable beer experience? Brewing La Vie en Rose – a limited edition beer to mark International Women’s Day in 2019. We worked with the brewers to develop the style, taste and look and got very much hands-on in the brewery to make the beer. We also had input into the design of the pump clip and seeing it on the bar in several Bowland Inns was a very proud moment.
If you were to order a taster flight in the Bowland Beer Hall, which three Bowland ales would you choose? Boxer Blonde, Bumble, Deer Stalker.
What’s your favourite Bowland Limited edition beer? La Vie en Rose… 100 per cent!
Favourite view in the Forest of Bowland? The view from Parlick Pike near Chipping, looking back up the valley towards Pendle. The first time I went up there, the views brought a tear to my eye… just so beautiful.
Favourite pub in Bowland area? For a post dog-walk pint and bowl of chips: The Waddington Arms. For an indulgent lunch with a friend, the Royal in Kirby Lonsdale.
hannah o’brien – Customer Service & Accounts Co-Ordinator
Where do you live: Blackburn
How long have you been with Bowland Brewery? Eight years
What attracted you to a career in the brewing sector? I’ve been in the brewing sector since leaving school, starting as an apprentice in sales at Daniel Thwaites and then went into customer service and marketing. When a job came up at Bowland Brewery, it felt like the perfect opportunity to spread my wings.
What qualifications do you have or are you working towards? Whilst working at Daniel Thwaites, I completed a marketing degree and gained a series of business and admin qualifications.
Have you worked for other brewers? Daniel Thwaites.
What makes Bowland Brewery and its products special? We’re a very happy and positive team and I think that comes across in the way we build strong relationships with our customers. The products speak for themselves in terms of their quality and customer appeal, but I think it’s our traditional values and the way we do business that has built up a loyal client base in recent years.
What’s the best aspect of your job? I love the variety – no two days are the same. While my ‘day job’ is focused on admin and accounts, there’s plenty of opportunity to get involved in other aspects like marketing and events.
Most memorable beer experience? It has to be brewing La Vie en Rose – our limited edition ale to mark International Women’s Day. I really enjoyed the whole process – from developing the flavour profile to designing the pump clip. There was a bit of an incident with several kilos of the berries we used to sweeten the flavour and give it that distinctive rose colour, but it all worked out well in the end!
If you were to order a taster flight in the Bowland Beer Hall, which three Bowland ales would you choose? Hoppy Hedgehog, Bowland Gold, Harlequin – another limited edition to mark International Women’s Day, featuring British-sourced Harlequin hops.
What’s your favourite Bowland Limited edition beer? La Vie en Rose… definitely.
Favourite view in the Forest of Bowland? The view from the beer garden at the Shireburn Arms, Hurst Green, on a warm May afternoon.
Favourite pub in Bowland area? The Assheton Arms. I worked there for a while and got to know the locals and regulars. As well as a popular ‘destination’ pub for visitors, it’s also a genuine village pub at the heart of the community.
suzanne johnson – Business Support Executive
Where do you live: Bury
How long have you been with Bowland Brewery? Four years.
What attracted you to a career in the brewing sector? I’ve been in the industry since I was 18 years old, working for a variety of different breweries and wholesalers over the years. I’ve always enjoyed speaking to customers on a regular basis and building customer relations. I also enjoy getting to know the different ranges of products and understanding what clients are looking for to suit their customers.
What brewing qualifications do you have or are you working towards? I don’t have any brewing qualifications, but I have completed several Customer services qualifications during my 31 years in the trade.
Have you worked for other brewers? I’ve worked for Vaux Breweries, Beer Seller, Daniel Thwaites, Frederic Robinsons and LWC.
What makes Bowland Brewery and its products special? We have a fabulous range of cask ales, from our core range through to the seasonals. Each have their own unique styles and flavours – from the ultra-light Boxer Blonde to the dark and complex Deer Stalker
What’s the best aspect of your job? Selling Bowland’s products and securing repeat custom by building strong relationships with clients. The seasonal ales work well alongside the core range and keep the product range fresh and varied.
Most memorable beer experience? I really enjoy getting to know the characteristics of the core and seasonal ranges and how they are made by talking to the brewers, who are always popping in and out of the office. It’s not unusual to be offered a sample of a new product at 9.30 in the morning… bit early for me though!
If you were to order a taster flight in the Bowland Beer Hall, which three Bowland ales would you choose? Boxer Blonde, Bumble, IPA
What’s your favourite Bowland Limited edition beer? Hoppy Hedgehog
Favourite view in the Forest of Bowland? View from the terrace at the Assheton Arms on a sunny afternoon, looking up to Pendle Hill.
Favourite pub in Bowland area? I really like the Assheton, but on a winter afternoon, you can’t beat the cosy snug and real fires at the Shireburn Arms in Hurst Green.