ARRAN Brewery have announced two new acquisitions this week – expanding their portfolio of pub ownership and a takeover of an English microbrewery to extend the reach of Arran ales into the south east and London.

The former Bowers Bar in Kilbirnie will be refurbished and renamed The Weavers in honour of the town’s historic connection with the weaving industry.

The 3,300 square feet site on Bridge Street in the town centre is part of Arran Brewery’s plans to diversify into bars and restaurants.

The new premises will offer the full range of Arran ales, lagers and whisky and will provide employment for five people.

Managing Director Gerald Michaluk said: “Kilbirnie is one of Scotland’s employment black spots but yet has a proud history in the weaving and more recently steel industry.

“It has a population of around 7,500 and is only about 20 miles from Glasgow with some fantastic scenery and has both lochs and castles on its doorstep.

"However, currently it is the kind of place you pass through rather than stop at.

“Arran Brewery hopes to change that by opening The Weavers as a local food lead establishment and give people a reason to stop for fine, ales and lagers, unique soft drinks and of course fine Arran and Ayrshire fare.

“As we start to develop our new Arran View Brewery, not too far away in Dreghorn, we want to expand the number of bars we operate and as we have found a very high quality pool of labour in North Ayrshire and we want to play a small part in the rejuvenation of the area. We are on the lookout for further local opportunities that will build our business and release the huge talents we have found in the people of North Ayrshire”.

The announcement comes in the same week as the purchase of the small Cambridgeshire-based Devils Dyke Brewery.  The acquisition of the small 2.5 barrel brewery will allow the company to launch Arran beers in the South East and London.  Managing Director Gerald Michaluk said: “We will be adding 100 casks to our cask stock and will be adding their beers to our range available in Scotland as well as introducing our Arran range to the South East of England.

“After a redesign of the Devil’s Dyke Brewery’s logo, a brewer will be assigned to re-commission the brewery and start production of its ale range as well as some new ones with an Arran twist.

“There is good demand in the area for Arran beer and we from time to time have sold beer locally on our raids south of the border.

“The Devil’s Dyke brand is well know locally and will remain associated with the Dykes End public house, to the rear of which the Brewery is located.  “Arran Brewery hopes to use this location as a staging post for the lucrative Cambridge and London Ale market as it pushes forward with its ambitious expansion plans.

Arran Brewery will be seeking to raise funds to increase its expansion by offering a second round of Crowd funding in May and June.