NICK STAFFORD’S HAMBLETON ALES

Needless to say, Hambleton Ales serves many local communities because it is the brewery’s business to supply Yorkshire pubs and restaurants. Private individuals are very important customers, as parties, weddings and anniversaries are constantly being celebrated with ale from its home delivery service. Local off licences are supplied, as are ASDA, Threshers and Tescos. It is company policy to support local schools and sports clubs with supplies of refreshments for their fund-raising events at less than cost price.

Innovation has been the core of the brewery operation, not just in the recipes of new beers which are created every month, but also the design and manufacture of brewing and bottling equipment used exclusively by Hambleton Ales. As part of the Millennium celebrations the largest brewer in the UK, Scottish Courage, commissioned Hambleton Ales to bottle its four commemorative beers. No other bottling company in the UK was able to provide the quality of service demanded. Bottling of beers from 30 other Yorkshire breweries is undertaken by contract.

In February, 2005, Nick Stafford’s ‘Hambleton Ales Gluten and Wheat Free Ale’ (GFA) was launched. It is the first British brewed beer of its type, providing the full flavour and satisfaction expected from a beer but in a gluten free formulation. Nick Stafford spent several years researching and developing bottling and filtration techniques. His recent breakthrough in brewing this unique ale has presented him with the opportunity of meeting demand from the UK’s 100, 000 coeliacs. There is now a sister product, GFL – a gluten free lager.

Investment in the rapidly growing business continued in 2007 with the commissioning of a £150, 000 filtration and bottling line, enabling the business to meet an urgent £50, 000 order to the U.S., and the opening of a £700, 000 new brewery in the autumn.