Campaign launched to help save Cornish brewery at risk of going bust
Skinner's is raising £100,000 to help secure its future
Last updated 2nd Mar 2021
A Cornish brewery has revealed that there is a risk it could go bust because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Skinner's, based in Truro, says its sales were down by 70% last year.
Now it is asking for people's help to keep it going until the pubs reopen, which will be the middle of May if the roadmap out of lockdown goes to plan.
A crowdfunding page has been launched to try and raise £100,000.
In less than 24 hours, it has already raised over £40,000 towards the target.
You can find the crowdfunder here.
"Brighter times are coming, but things have been touch and go for Skinner’s during the pandemic. With the latest news that many pubs won't reopen until May, we are asking for your help to get over the final hurdle. We’d love to be there for you in the sunshine-filled, Lushingtons kind-of-days ahead!
"For us specifically, 2020 was a perfect storm. Covid hit just as the business was in a key transition phase, leaving us extremely vulnerable.
"During this time, our tap room, brewery tours, onsite shop and the Old Ale House in Truro - and of course the whole of the UK - had to close, leaving us without key income generators.
"We’ve made it this far, and we can almost hear the first pints being poured. There is light at the end of the long Covid tunnel, and we have so many exciting plans for our beloved brewery. We just need YOU, our loyal Skinner’s crew, to carry us over the final hurdle and into that bright future, where we can all raise a pint together!"
Skinners Brewery
"Every week has felt like a marathon since March 2020 as we’ve battled some scary scenarios, all the while fearing for the future of our iconic brewery and close-knit team.
"Pubs, restaurants and hotels – accounting for up to 70% of our turnover – have been either closed or operating under restrictions for almost a year now and, like many other breweries, we are officially running on empty!
"With the latest news that the majority of Britain's pubs won't be able to open for months yet (not all pubs have large outdoor areas, and even if they do opening exclusively outdoors may not be viable) there is a real danger that our operating costs will drag us under before then.
"Covid also meant that so many exciting plans for new beers, tour experiences, tap room nights and community events simply didn’t happen. All of this has left us in a state of limbo we’d dearly love to put behind us.
"We’re aiming to raise a minimum of £100,000 - enough to help keep us operational until the pubs finally reopen - first outdoors from 12th April and then hopefully fully from 17th May - and at long last our income begins to pick up again."
Skinners Brewery