Thieves target Arran Brewery’s sake development

CRAFT beer producer The Arran Brewery has been targeted by thieves three times in as many weeks since moving to the mainland, where it plans to create Scotland’s first sake brewery

Gerald Michaluk, managing director of the Arran Brewery. Picture: Contributed

The brewer, which has won a clutch of industry awards from its remote island base, is currently working on opening a new development in Dreghorn, North Ayrshire,

However the mainland move has been beset by problems as vandals and thieves have caused over £60,000 worth of damage in the time between agreeing the deal to purchase the former council site and the brewer moving in.

Lead has been stolen from the roof resulting in major water damage internally and the copper boilers have been stolen from all three buildings, leaving one boiler house flooded.

Managing director Gerald Michaluk said: “This is something we are not used to. You can leave your back door open on Arran with no fear of being robbed, everyone knows everyone and looks out for each other.

“We have employed our first three staff but the break-ins continue and currently thieves are trying to steal kitchen equipment, this is all causing unbudgeted for work and if it continues will cause us delays in creating the over 30 jobs planned for the new facility.”

Dreghorn has been chosen to house the breweries bottling hall, research and development centre and Scotland’s first Sake brewery. It will contain a visitor centre designed to attract around 30,000 visitors a year to the area.

Mr Michaluk added: “If crime is a serious issue in the area its time the good citizens fight back and retake their neighbourhood from the criminals.

“These boilers they stole are large and someone must have seen something, further they must have sold them somewhere.

“Someone must know who these thieves are and I urge anyone with information to report it to the police so these people can be removed from society, for a short time at least.”