CRAIG Hoy, a Conservative MSP for South Scotland, has launched the ‘Brew with your MSP’ Certificate to encourage Members of the Scottish Parliament to visit local breweries and discover more about the contribution of brewing to the Scottish economy and local communities.
Mr Hoy, who is the Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Beer and Pubs, launched the certificate on a visit to Belhaven Brewery in Dunbar where he had a tour of the brewery’s new visitor experience from brewer Billy Mathers, brewing distribution director Tim Preston and Belhaven’s brand manager Fiona Matheson.
Belhaven Brewery is Scotland’s oldest working brewery which was established in Dunbar in 1719. It employs over 70 people, and the Belhaven franchise owns over 150 pubs throughout Scotland.
Mr Hoy presented the Cross-Party Group on Beer and Pubs’ first ‘Brew with your MSP’ Certificate to Belhaven Master Brewer, Billy Mathers.
Craig said: “Belhaven is an important landmark of East Lothian’s economy, history and identity, and it supports hundreds of jobs across Scotland.
“The team at Belhaven Brewery are very engaged with the local community and they support Sustaining Dunbar who have transformed the grounds of Belhaven Hospital into a therapeutic space for staff, patients, visitors and local residents.
“The brewery’s new interactive visitor experience is also very interesting and enjoyable, and their bar and garden spaces are open for events throughout the year.
“Belhaven brew over ten different beers in Dunbar, and it was fascinating to discover the enormous diversity of Scottish beers – from craft pilsner to their award-winning Scottish oat stout.
“As a major employer in East Lothian, I would strongly encourage people to consider trying out their new range of award-winning beers and support the brewery by visiting their new visitor experience in Dunbar.”
Tim Preston, from Belhaven Brewery, said: “Belhaven has a proud history stretching back more than 300 years in Dunbar and we’re proud to continue to be one of the largest employers in the town.
“We’re honoured to be the first brewery visited as part of this initiative and to receive our ‘Brew with your MSP’ certificate from Craig. It was great to show him around the brewery so he could meet some of the team and learn about the pressures facing our sector currently, including rising costs and energy inflation, as we seek to continue creating jobs in Scottish pubs and at our brewery.
“It was clear from our discussion that Craig fully understood the vital importance of beer and pubs to the Scottish economy and is excited by opportunities to promote beer exports and encourage tourism to Scotland.”
MSP or brewers wishing to arrange a brewery visit should contact Paul Hegarty [email protected] for more information.
