The Great British Drinks Co appoints former Buxton Brewery boss as managing director

The Great British Drinks Co has appointed former Buxton Brewery boss Dominic Metcalfe as its managing director.

Metcalfe, who announced his departure from Buxton last week, will be charged with reviving the fortunes of brands including Black Sheep, Purity Brewing, Magic Rock and North Brewing.

He spent two-and-a-half years at the helm of Buxton Brewery, steering the business through a pre-pack sale to Stockport-based Happy Place Investors in May 2024.

Writing on LinkedIn, Metcalfe said he departed Buxton with “busy venues in growth both top and bottom line, new national and regional grocery listings, widened export markets, national pubco wins and a rapidly growing e-commerce business”.

Commenting on his appointment at The Great British Drinks Co, Metcalfe said: “I am incredibly honoured to start my new role as managing director of the Great British Drinks Company today.

“Black Sheep Brewery was a beer that regularly featured on the bar in my family’s pub in the late 1990s in Hampshire when I was growing up. Purity Brewing Co was one of the first partner brands I worked with when I started my career in beer at Adnams Brewery back in 2005. Similarly, I have seen Magic Rock Brewing Co and North Brewing help shape and define the craft/indie beer scene over the past couple of decades.

“I now have the privilege of helping to shape the future of these iconic heritage brands along with the rest of the team at GBDC and I could not be more excited to get to work.”

The Great British Drinks Co was formed earlier this year after the collapse of Keystone Brewing, which had itself acquired a slew distressed beer brands out of administration.

The business has outlined its intention to return to profitable growth by shrinking to a sustainable core focused on a smaller set of brands.

“Dominic brings significant drinks experience and has a strong track record of building brands, developing customer relationships and leading commercial growth,” said The Great British Drinks Co director Sunny Sharma. “He shares our vision to restore regional British brewing.

“As we continue to invest in our breweries and portfolio of brands, Dom’s appointment reflects our ambition to accelerate the next phase of growth.”