Independent family brewer Harvey’s has announced a series of appointments within its brewing team, marking the next chapter in the brewery’s long-term succession planning.

After forty years as head brewer, Miles Jenner will now lead the brewery in the role of production director, while continuing as joint managing director.

Miles will initially head the production function, supporting the next generation of brewers as they step into senior leadership roles and ensuring the continuity of the brewery’s distinctive brewing tradition.

As part of these changes, Peter Yarlett has been appointed head brewer. He first joined Harvey’s in 1995 in what began as a holiday job, returning during university vacations while studying Chemistry at the University of Exeter.

After graduating, he spent a gap year with us before going on to complete a Master’s degree in Brewing and Distilling at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh.

Seven years later, following employment as a brewer at Meantime Brewery in London and Hogs Back Brewery in Surrey, he returned to Harvey’s as third brewer. He was promoted to second brewer in 2010 and has now stepped up to head brewer. 

Henry Kirk has been promoted to second brewer.

Henry first encountered Harvey’s in 2012, while a mature student at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh. As part of his Brewing and Distilling degree, he undertook his work placement with us during the ‘Olympic Summer’ months. After graduating, he returned to London and worked as production Bbrewer at Fullers for six years.

Their subsequent acquisition of Dark Star Brewery saw him move to Sussex and take up the Head Brewer position at Partridge Green until the brewery was closed. While working at Hand Brew Co. in Worthing, he was ‘recalled’ to Harvey’s brewing team and now becomes second brewer.

Joining them as third brewer is Cameron Elder. Cameron Elder has known Harvey’s since childhood and is an eighth generation descendent of the brewery’s founder – John Harvey.

He frequently worked at the brewery during vacations while both an undergraduate, studying Mechanical Engineering at Edinburgh University, and a postgraduate at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh – where he completed his Master’s degree in Brewing and Distilling.

After gaining work experience at Belhaven, Timothy Taylors and Joseph Holts breweries, he recently joined the brewing team at Harvey’s as third brewer.

Commenting on the changes, Miles Jenner, production director and joint managing director, said: “Our aim was to ensure continuity, while encouraging innovation, and it is exciting to see this long-term objective come to fruition. I could not wish for a more capable or enthusiastic brewing team.”