Horsforth Brewery has acquired the popular craft beer bar Fuggle & Golding in Ilkley, preventing its closure and securing its future as an independent venue. The bar, which opened in 2015, was set to shut on February 28 but will reopen under new ownership on Wednesday. This marks Horsforth Brewery's first permanent site in the town.
Fuggle & Golding, located on Leeds Road in Ilkley, has been a staple of the local beer scene since opening in 2015. The venue built a loyal following with its rotating craft beer lines, welcoming atmosphere, and selection of guest breweries. Last month, its owners announced the closure on February 28 via a Facebook post, citing challenges in the hospitality sector.
Horsforth Brewery, founded by Mark Costello, stepped in to take ownership, ensuring the bar continues as a specialist craft beer venue. In a statement, Costello expressed enthusiasm: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be taking over such an established and respected business. Fuggle & Golding has been a staple of the Ilkley beer scene, and when we saw it was closing we were determined not to lose another important independent venue.” He thanked George, the previous owner, for his three years of work and for facilitating a smooth handover.
The brewery plans to refresh the product mix, featuring a strong presence of Horsforth beers alongside curated guest options. Social media posts from Horsforth emphasized continuity: “Obviously we will be stocking our beers here but... we will continue to have a good amount of guest beer on as well. We’ll even be joining in with the biggest beer launches from around the country.” The venue will reopen on Wednesday after minor updates to reflect the new ownership.
This acquisition highlights Horsforth Brewery's commitment to sustainable growth amid hospitality struggles. Costello noted: “Hospitality is really struggling at the moment but our commitment to sustainable growth rather than growth at all costs means we’ve been able to organically grow our business to the next level.” The move supports independent beer culture and local communities through quality beer and inviting spaces.