SIBA Business Awards 2023: Hackney, Walthamstow, Islington and Bermondsey beer companies make shortlist

The shortlist has been announced for this year’s independent brewers’ awards - with London companies competing for prizes.

The winners of the SIBA Business Awards 2023 will be announced on March 15.

Star London firms up for prizes include Hackney Church Brew Co, which is in the running for the UK's Best Independent Craft Brewery Taproom, and Bermondsey’s Anspach & Hobday, which is in the running for Best Individual Design.

Brewhouse & Kitchen (Islington) and Signature Brew (Walthamstow) are both shortlisted in the new Empowering People category. Signature is also on the Community Engagement list.

Brewery Market, in Twickenham, is up for UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer - Single, and London Craft Beer Festival is in the running for UK's Best Independent Craft Beer Promotion.

Walthamstow’s Wild Card is in two categories: Best Concept Design and UK’s Best Independent Craft Brewery Webshop.

Neil Walker, chair of judges, said: “With hundreds of superb entries from across the UK, I would like to say a huge congratulations to all of the breweries and beer businesses named as finalists in the SIBA Business Awards 2023.

“To make it this far is a huge, huge achievement and the judging panel had an incredibly tough job this year such was the quality of entries overall.

“I’d also like to wish the finalists good luck ahead of the awards presentation at BeerX in Liverpool on March 15 I look forward to congratulating the winners, including this year’s prestigious Brewery Business of the Year 2023.”

Joining the expert judging panel for 2023 were Andy Slee, SIBA chief executive; Caroline Nodder, editor of Independent Brewer and the SIBA British Craft Beer Report; Alex Metcalfe, lead on CAMRA Learn & Discover; Jo Hunter, interior and architectural design expert and founder of Hunter’s Daughter; and Charlie Docherty, SIBA business development officer.

The SIBA Business Awards 2023 will be presented on Wednesday March 15 at BeerX UK in Liverpool by beer author, journalist, broadcaster and consultant Pete Brown. Named British Guild of Beer Writers’ “Beer Writer of the Year” in 2009, 2012, 2016 and 2021, Pete has won three Fortnum & Mason Food and Drink Awards, been shortlisted twice for the Andre Simon Awards, and in 2020 was named an “Industry Legend” at the Imbibe Hospitality Awards.

The full list (London firms highlighted)

UK's Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer - Single

Brewery Market, Twickenham

Brews of the World, Burton-on-Trent

CentrAle, Newcastle

The Filling Station, St Ives

UK's Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer - Multiple

10 Green Bottles

A Hoppy Place

General Stores

UK's Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer - Online

A Hoppy Place

Beers of Europe

Trembling Madness

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub – City

Bullhouse East, Belfast

Craft Republic, Barry

Whitelock’s Ale House, Leeds

UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub – Rural

The Baileyhead, Oswestry

Elephant & Castle, Wheathampstead

The Fox & Hounds Beer House, Caversham

UK's Best Independent Craft Beer Promotion

Hop Forward

London Craft Beer Festival

Norwich City of Ale

UK's Best Independent Craft Brewery Webshop

Cloudwater

Thornbridge

Wild Card (Walthamstow)

Marketing Implementation

Black Sheep

Hand Brew Co

Siren

Wiper + True

Community Engagement

Adnams

Full Circle

Moongazer

Signature Brew (Walthamstow)

Best Individual Design

Anspach & Hobday (Bermondsey)

Full Circle

Red Willow

Best Concept Design

Abbeydale Funk Dungeon

Lakes Brew Co

North Brewing

Wild Card (Walthamstow)

Business Innovation

Hobsons

Lincoln Green

Commercial Achievement

Bullhouse

Hobsons

Lakes Brew Co

Utopian

Empowering People (new category)

Brentwood Brewery

Brewhouse & Kitchen (Islington)

Signature Brew (Walthamstow)

UK's Best Independent Craft Brewery Taproom

Gun Brewery

Hackney Church Brew Co (Hackney)

Wiper + True

Sustainable Business

Bluestone Brewing Co

Purity

Ramsgate Brewery

Wasted Degrees

Supplier Associate of the year (Brewer nominated)

Beer Box Shop

Charles Faram

Festival Glass

Saxon Packaging