Harvey's Brewery to be sold?

[dougdeep]

I've certainly been investing in their products lately.

 

[Screaming J]

Two related rumours:-

1. The source of this story about the Shepherd Neame takeover is connected to Shepherd Neame.

2. To meet demand Shepherd Neame already do some brewing on behalf of Harveys.



These are GENUINE rumours. I haven't made them up. But I have no inside knowledge and no relatives with close connections to anyone who might be in a position to know someone.

My Mum mentioned to me tonight when I told her this rumour over the phone (we both think if it happens its akin to the ravens leaving the Tower of London by the way) that S Neame bottled the 'Ouse Booze' for Harveys when there was the flooding 2-3 years back.

Also if you look on their web site all S Neame's PR appears to be done by someone called Harvey. Which may of course just be a coincidence.....

 

[Monkey Man]

Apart from emergency measures after the flood I don't think Sheps have done any brewing for Harveys. The brewery isn't at capacity so why would they?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

S Neame bottled the 'Ouse Booze' for Harveys when there was the flooding 2-3 years back.

That's certainly what it says on the bottle of Ouse Booze that sits on my bookshelf.

But remember ... Harveys needed it to be bottled quickly, because their own premises had been underwater and the mop-up was taking a very long time to complete.

 

[Grendel]

What was the story on the Greene King / Harveys situation a year or two ago ?

The (unsubstantiated) version I heard was that Harveys had the opportunity to take over some Greene King pubs, but chose not to, and consequently the whole thing was turned round on them, and Harveys ended up losing several of their own outlets.

Harveys had the opportunity to buy Beards pubs, but didn't, Greene King bought them. Harveys didn't lose any of their own pubs, although in the long term they lost sales as Greene King Pub Partners prevented ex-Beards licensees from stocking Harveys.

He was told that not many places want to stock it because Harveys insist on a deposit on the bottles to get them back. If it's that popular, surely it's worth finding a way to sell it without the deposit

You don't pay a deposit on Harveys bottles as such - it's included in the price of the beer. You pay, for example, £1.35 for a bottle of beer. If you return the bottle they give you 9p (it used to be 9p, may be different now). There is, or used to be, a £50 deposit on firkins though.

2. To meet demand Shepherd Neame already do some brewing on behalf of Harveys.

It wouldn't surprise me if Shit & Scream are contract brewing for Harveys. The latest BLO report in Sussex Drunkard stated that Harveys are operating at over 100% capacity. Also, the brewery is currently undergoing a refurbishment. Harveys have had difficulty supplying for some months now, and one brew was recalled due to quality issues. It makes financial sense for them to contract it out to someone, and Shepherd Neame is the obvious choice, being as they're the nearest decent sized brewer in the area.

 

[Lammy]

This is NOT what I wanted to read on a Monday!

Please GOD don't let it be true.

ps I can't see this happening to be honest.

 

[Grendel]

This is NOT what I wanted to read on a Monday!

Please GOD don't let it be true.

ps I can't see this happening to be honest.

It's not really what I want to read either but it's only a matter of time before Harveys are bought out.

 

[Lammy]

It's not really what I want to read either but it's only a matter of time before Harveys are bought out.

Why?

 

[Grendel]

They're a small brewery with a fairly limited market who are struggling to brew their beer and manage their estate. Look at Harveys pubs - very few have had any investment in them. Much as I like The Nelson, it's shabby. The Alma looks like a social club. The Plough is run down to the extent that it needs £250,000 spent on it, that the brewery aren't prepared/can't afford to pay. The Fountain at Cowden, The Trevor, The Swan, The Grenadier, The Lamb...they're all the same. Look at Gales, Ridleys, Buckleys, King & Barnes, Tolly Cobold, Morland...all similar size brewers with similar size estates who all talked the talk about remaining independant, and all of them sold out. They couldn't do it forever, and nor can Harveys.

 

[Lammy]

They're a small brewery with a fairly limited market who are struggling to brew their beer and manage their estate. Look at Harveys pubs - very few have had any investment in them. Much as I like The Nelson, it's shabby. The Alma looks like a social club. The Plough is run down to the extent that it needs £250,000 spent on it, that the brewery aren't prepared/can't afford to pay. The Fountain at Cowden, The Trevor, The Swan, The Grenadier, The Lamb...they're all the same. Look at Gales, Ridleys, Buckleys, King & Barnes, Tolly Cobold, Morland...all similar size brewers with similar size estates who all talked the talk about remaining independant, and all of them sold out. They couldn't do it forever, and nor can Harveys.

true. I was in the Trever Arms the other day and I thought, what a shit hole it was. Couldn't belive a pub in such a nice setting and building run by a decent brewery could be let to get in that state.

 

[Grendel]

true. I was in the Trever Arms the other day and I thought, what a shit hole it was. Couldn't belive a pub in such a nice setting and building run by a decent brewery could be let to get in that state.

It's a shame really, especially as the beer is usually spot on in there.

 

[Screaming J]

I sent the following e-mail to the e-mail address quoted on their web site:- info@harveys.org.uk

the e-mail read:-

"Sorry to bother you but there are rumours on at least one web site that Harveys is to be taken over by Shepherd Neame.

Please say this isn't so!!

best wishes

etc"

The response read:-

"This message was created automatically by mail delivery software.

A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of
its recipients. The following addresses failed:

<info@harveys.org.uk>

SMTP error from remote server after RCPT command:
host mail.harveys.org.uk[80.243.178.38]:
553 5.3.0 <info@harveys.org.uk>... No such user here"

So there we are. The e-mail address they give on their web site is dead. What inference can we draw from that!!!

 

[Paul Reids Sock]

HARVEYS CANNOT BE SOLD!!! i have only just discovered the wonder that is harvey, a pub me and my mates have been dirnking in for 2 years sells it, and one night i thought hey, y nt give the stella a miss and have some harveys (my dad always goes on about it, and deespite being from kent, i am so proud of my sussex heritage) and well, i havent stopped drinking it since. they cant sell harveys before i even have my first egal pint of it!

 

[Monkey Man]

I promised I would ring Harveys today to talk to my very important friends there and find out what was happening. I did, twice, but Miles and Hamish were both in meetings. I will try again tomorrow and post here.

Still don't believe there's anything in this but I am curious to know how this rumour has started, and they may shed some light.

 

[Grendel]

I promised I would ring Harveys today to talk to my very important friends there and find out what was happening. I did, twice, but Miles and Hamish were both in meetings. I will try again tomorrow and post here.

Still don't believe there's anything in this but I am curious to know how this rumour has started, and they may shed some light.

I'll be in the John Harvey tonight after work - if you can't get hold of either of them I'll see if they're around this evening.

 

[Monkey Man]

Just had it confirmed by Miles Jenner: this sale story is 100% untrue. Harveys will be sold only "over a number of dead bodies" and is not for sale, not talking to anybody and doing very well. He is incredulous that this rumour has spread and wonders if it started when news broke that Courage is shutting the Lewes depot.

So relax. Harveys is not for sale or closing. Just as we thought.

 

[Dandyman]

Just had it confirmed by Miles Jenner: this sale story is 100% untrue. Harveys will be sold only "over a number of dead bodies" and is not for sale, not talking to anybody and doing very well. He is incredulous that this rumour has spread and wonders if it started when news broke that Courage is shutting the Lewes depot.

So relax. Harveys is not for sale or closing. Just as we thought.

TFFT.

 

[Gully]

I was gutted when King and Barnes ceased to exist, having a pint or two of their beer was always something to look forward whenever returning home from some far flung outpost. If Harveys does go how many Sussex brewers will remain?

 

[Monkey Man]

I was gutted when King and Barnes ceased to exist, having a pint or two of their beer was always something to look forward whenever returning home from some far flung outpost. If Harveys does go how many Sussex brewers will remain?

More than you might think: Dark Star, Hepworths, King, Ballards ...

But to repeat. HARVEYS IS NOT SELLING OUT TO SHEPS OR ANYBODY ELSE!

 

[Gully]

I seem to remember there being a brewery in Arundel and maybe one in Lancing (think its badge featured a small boat).