Micro Brewery in a Small Unit
Brew cask and keg beer in a rented unit and sell to local pubs, shops and drinkers.
- £40k-200k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
1,969 UK companies in this field, 13% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 11050 “Manufacture of beer”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small commercial brewery in an industrial unit or farm building, making beer in batches and selling it in casks, kegs, bottles or cans.
Your first three steps
- Learn to brew on a commercial scale through a course or by helping at a local brewery
- Write a business plan with costed kit, unit rent and a first range of three or four beers
- Contact HMRC about alcohol duty and approval, and your local council about the unit and food business registration
Who pays
Local pubs and bars, bottle shops, farm shops, and drinkers buying direct through a taproom, website or events.
How it makes money
Wholesale sales of casks, kegs and packaged beer to trade customers, plus higher-margin direct sales to drinkers.
Skills that help
- Brewing know-how and recipe development
- Cleaning, hygiene and careful record keeping
- Selling to pubs and shops
- Physical work lifting casks and kit
Watch out for
- Alcohol duty: check with HMRC about registration, approval and how and when duty is paid
- Premises licence needed to sell direct to the public, check with your local council
- Food business registration with your local council and food hygiene rules
- Public liability and product liability insurance
- Brewing kit, unit fit-out and stock tie up a lot of cash before sales start
- Check planning use class for your unit and rules on drainage and trade waste
🔒 Full research report for UK
Real cost breakdown with current prices, licences and registration checklist, local competition, pricing, break-even and a 30-day launch plan, with sources.
Coming soonQuestions people ask
How much does it cost to start a micro brewery?
Startup costs are typically around £40,000 to £200,000, depending on your brewing kit, unit fit-out and opening stock. These tie up a lot of cash before sales start, so treat them as estimates.
How much can a micro brewery earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on how much beer you sell to pubs, shops and direct to drinkers. Treat these as estimates and plan for cash tied up before sales start.
What licences and rules apply to running a micro brewery?
Check with HMRC about alcohol duty registration and approval, and with your local council about a premises licence and food business registration. Also check insurance, planning use class for your unit, and drainage and trade waste rules.
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