The Old Canon Brewery changes hands with new lease holders
New operators have taken over the running of the Old Cannon Brewery, in Bury St Edmunds.
From this week the lease has been acquired by Innventure Ltd, a family company owned and run by Chris and Fiona Gerard, from Cambridge.
Bury’s original micro brewery has long had a good reputation for its beer, uniquely brewed in the bar of the pub.
Their Best Bitter, Gunner’s Daughter and Blonde Bombshell real ales along with other seasonal and special brews have regularly won awards and accolades since the Old Cannon was established in the former St Edmund’s Head pub in 1999.
Freeholders Michael Shallow (former finance director of Greene King plc) and Judith Shallow have expressed delight that the business now joins an independent family of award-winning bars, hotels and country restaurants including the Cross Keys, in Saffron Walden, and dArry’s, in Cambridge. Innventure also owns The Wellington, in Welwyn, and The Rusty Gun, at St Ippolyts, both in Hertfordshire.
The Old Cannon has been brewing a bespoke ale for the Rusty Gun for the past nine years and the brewery now joining the Innventure portfolio means that Old Cannon beers will shortly be found across the six strong collection of pubs and restaurants.
New owners, Chris and Fiona Gerard of Innventure are excited to acquire this unique brewing, bar and bedroom business which will sit neatly alongside their other successful outlets.
They are keen to reassure regular customers that there will be no interruption to “business as usual”.
Brewer Tris Avis and managers Craig and Julie Nichols and their staff will continue to run The Old Cannon as they do now.
“The business is busy with lots of Christmas party bookings in December and the team are fully focused on making these amazing – so no time for lots of change,” says new owner Chris Gerard.
“Our first six-week strategy is to be the same, but better. The beer is amazing and the sausages are brilliant, what’s not to like?
“Change is afoot however and the seven bedrooms will be our first priority to refresh and ensure that our customers have a fabulous overnight stay, followed by a delicious breakfast. We shall quickly be introducing some incredible new wines from wine maker friends d’Arenberg, from Mclaren Vale, in South East Australia, and freshly made coffees and teas to provide contrast to the already brilliant beers.”
Managers Craig and Julie said of the change: “Our ideas for the Old Cannon and those of Chris and Fiona seem strikingly similar. This just feels so right. Exciting times are ahead as The Old Cannon enters its 20thyear.”
Pictured above are, from left to right, new owners Chris and Fiona Gerard, of Innventure, and Old Cannon managers Julie and Craig Nichols.