Keystone Brewing Group, the owner of brands such as Black Sheep, Brew By Numbers, North and Magic Rock, has been acquired by a newly-formed business – the Great British Drinks Company.

The company, which is backed by the family entrepreneurs behind the Paramount Retail Group, has acquired by the group for £4.5m with a further £2m earmarked fort investment and restoration.

The deal secures 145 jobs, along with three brewery sites across England as well their brands that also include Fourpure and Brick Brewery.

Ravi Sharma, co-founder of the Great British Drinks Company, said: “This isn’t just a restoration deal, it’s about restoring pride to Yorkshire.

“The region has a proud brewing heritage, and we could not stand by and let that be lost. The next few months will be exciting, the business has some fantastic people, brilliant customers and a group of suppliers that we will be very focussed on rebuilding relationships with.

“The great British Drinks company is open for business and here for the long term.”