Preston’s Chain House Brewing is marking the next stage in its journey with the company set to purchase the city centre premises where the business is based.
The brewery, founded by Ryan Hayes, is taking the step with support from Allica Bank. Chain House Brewing started by brewing small 20-litre batches for friends and family nearly two decades ago while working full-time as an electrician.
Today, the business supplies pubs and bars across the region and operates a popular city centre venue on Market Street that has become a hub for the local community.
The latest milestone comes after the building’s owner offered Ryan first refusal on the property creating an opportunity to put down permanent roots in the city centre and take ownership of the home he has built for the business.
What started as a hobby soon gathered momentum. Brewing in the evenings and at weekends around his day job, Ryan gradually built a loyal customer base while reinvesting every penny of profit back into equipment and production.
As demand increased, the operation eventually outgrew the family garage.
“I never planned for this to become my full-time job,” said Hayes. “I was brewing beer because I loved it. Every bit of money the business made went straight back into equipment, ingredients or finding ways to make the beer better.
“Then all of a sudden, I had more customers than I could keep up with and realised I needed to make a decision if I wanted to keep moving forward.”
Hayes’ next opportunity came when he was introduced to a local property owner looking to create a brewery and bar in the heart of Preston city centre. Together, they transformed the premises into a destination where customers can enjoy a pint while seeing the brewing process in action.
The move allowed Chain House Brewing to increase production and open a taproom, which now accounts for around half of sales. However, Hayes admits the transition was far from straightforward.
“The garage was comfortable because there wasn’t much pressure,” he said. “But once you move into a commercial premises, everything changes. You’ve got rent to pay, bills coming in and people depending on you.
“There was a period where I was working full-time as an electrician, brewing beer and helping run the bar. It got to the point where I couldn’t keep juggling everything and had to take a leap of faith.”
Today, Chain House Brewing welcomes customers seven days a week and attracts visitors from across Lancashire and beyond. The venue hosts live music, open mic nights, brewery tours and community events, while also serving as the home of the Lancashire Home Brew Club.
Following the owner’s decision to retire, the opportunity arose to purchase the building that houses the brewery. With support from the challenger bank for established businesses, Allica Bank, Ryan is now buying the property.
“For me, it’s about certainty,” he said. “Owning the building means we’re no longer at the mercy of circumstances outside our control. It gives us stability and the confidence to keep investing in what we’ve built.
“We spoke to a number of lenders during the process, but Allica really took the time to understand both the business and what we’re trying to achieve. As an independent brewery, we’re probably not the easiest business to fit into a standard box, but they could see the journey we’ve been on and the opportunity ahead of us.
“I was born and raised in Preston, so there’s also a real sense of pride in owning part of the city. We’ve worked hard to create somewhere people enjoy coming to, and being able to secure it for the long term feels incredibly special.”
Ben Homans, relationship manager at Allica Bank, said: “Ryan’s story is exactly what makes working with business owners so rewarding. I personally can’t wait to visit and try one of his famous pints.
“Businesses like Chain House play an important role in local economies. Established businesses account for more than a third of private sector employment across the North West, and many have been built through years of determination, reinvestment and strong community support.”
“Being able to help Ryan purchase the property and secure the next stage of the brewery’s journey is a fantastic moment, and we’re proud to support him.”
Looking ahead, Hayes plans to continue growing the brewery, expand the programme of events at the taproom and explore opportunities to increase production and potentially open another venue in the future.
“A lot of people think there’s a big team behind Chain House,” he said. “The reality is that for the past 17 years it’s mostly been me, with support from family, friends and customers along the way. To get to this point is something I’m incredibly proud of.”
