Brewer to buy city centre premises after 17 year journey from garage hobby

A Preston brewer who started making beer in his garage when he was just 18 is set to buy his very own city centre premises.

Ryan Hayes, founder of Chain House Brewing, began brewing 20-litre batches for friends and family nearly two decades ago while working full-time as an electrician. Today, the business supplies pubs and bars across the region and operates a popular city centre venue in Market Street that has become a hub for the local community.

The opportunity arose after the building's owner offered Ryan first refusal on the property creating, a chance to put down permanent roots in the city centre and take ownership of the home he has built for the business.

Ryan said: "For me, it's about certainty. Owning the building means we're no longer at the mercy of circumstances outside our control. It gives us stability and the confidence to keep investing in what we've built.

"I was born and raised in Preston, so there's also a real sense of pride in owning part of the city. We've worked hard to create somewhere people enjoy coming to, and being able to secure it for the long term feels incredibly special."

Ryan was supported by the challenger bank for established businesses, Allica Bank, to complete the purchase.

He said: "We spoke to a number of lenders during the process, but Allica really took the time to understand both the business and what we're trying to achieve. As an independent brewery, we're probably not the easiest business to fit into a standard box, but they could see the journey we've been on and the opportunity ahead of us."

Ben Homans, relationship manager at Allica Bank, said: "Ryan's story is exactly what makes working with business owners so rewarding. I personally can’t wait to visit and try one of his famous pints.

"Businesses like Chain House play an important role in local economies. Established businesses account for more than a third of private sector employment across the North West, and many have been built through years of determination, reinvestment and strong community support."