Chris Appleby

The landlord of the Cleveland Hotel in Redcar has achieved every man’s dream by setting up his own micro-brewery. Chris Appleby struck on the idea after looking for ways to expand his successful pub and offer an even better service to his customers.

This is Chris Appleby ’s story…

1. Why did you want to start your own business?

   I wanted to try something new to run alongside the pub business. With the price of a pint heading towards £3, this seemed like a logical step to take as it means our regulars can, quite literally, sup the benefits. A pint of RedScar sells for just £1.75.

2. What was the deciding factor for you?

   I’ve always said that if you want to go into business on your own, you should do something that interests you. I had the knowledge of the industry, I knew where I could acquire the skills and, most importantly, I had the space.

3. How did you get the business off the ground?

   I researched the equipment I would need and signed up for a course in brewing, which I completed while I was pulling the business plan together. It turned out that the guy who did the course also supplied micro breweries and he gave me the advice I needed to get it off the ground. The Enterprise Team helped with funding and the business plan.

4. Best bits about working for yourself?

   It’s hard work, don’t think it’s not. You can pick and choose your hours, but you have to put the time in. It’s all up to you, though, so you get out of it what you put into it.

5. What have been the biggest challenges so far?

   The money. The Enterprise Team funding was a great help, but it’s still been a major personal commitment. To expand further would take serious investment. The kegs we use are £60 each, for example, and I needed 30 just to supply my own pub. That’s before you even look at the cost of the equipment itself.

6. What would you have done differently if you could go back?

   I would have got a bigger brewery. At the moment, I have to brew every day just to meet demand from our own customers. With more capacity, I could make that much in one day and then look to supply other people.

7. How does it feel to be your own boss?

   It feels good, but sometimes you do worry it won’t work out. The trick is to learn from the hard times, which can make you even more determined to succeed.

8. A piece of advice for those thinking about starting up?

   Plan everything carefully and don’t rush into any decisions. I thought of the idea and then researched for two years before I made the leap..

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