The winners in the SIBA Business Awards 2024 have today been revealed – highlighting the very best beer businesses across the UK – including breweries, pubs, taprooms and bottle shops Thornbridge Brewery in Bakewell, Derbyshire, took home this year’s top award, being named ‘SIBA Brewery Business of the Year 2024’ in what was a glitzing night for the indie beer and brewing industry.
Presenting the awards was writer and broadcaster Pete Brown, who commented, “Thornbridge are a superb beer business who impressed judges across the board, winning out with superb entries in some of the awards’ toughest categories. Huge congratulations to the Thornbrdige team.”
The SIBA Business Awards are judged by a panel of independent beer industry experts, and organised by not-for-profit trade association the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates. The awards cover everything from brewery marketing, design and innovation, to efforts to make businesses more sustainable or impactful.
The 2024 awards also for the first time included a new “Collaboration” Award, which was won again by Thornbridge for their collaboration with Czech brewery Budvar on their popular ‘Czech Mates’ beer – the first ever collaboration for the 128-year-old Czech brewery.
The new Collaboration award aims to highlight the incredibly collaborative nature of the independent brewing industry and was one of the awards’ most entered categories. Also new for 2024 was the ‘Brewers’ Brewer of the Year’ award, which was won by Jamie Delap of Fynes Ales. Pete Brown commented in presenting, “Jamie’s tireless work fighting on behalf of independent brewers against the unworkable Deposit Return Scheme in Scotland was clearly hugely appreciated and has had a real impact on other brewing businesses who voted for this award.”
Joining the expert judging panel for 2024 were Andy Slee, SIBA Chief Executive; Steve Alton, Chief Executive of the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII); Ellie Hudspith, Senior Campaigns Manager at CAMRA; Jo Hunter, Interior & Architectural Design expert and founder of Hunter’s Daughter; Robyn Black, Head of Content at Fleetstreet Communications; Pete Brown, Broadcaster and author; and Neil Walker, SIBA Head of Comms & Marketing, who chaired the panel.