An award-winning independent brewery in Surrey has closed after 14 years, with its owner blaming rising taxes and costs under the Labour government for making the business unsustainable. Thurstons Brewery, located in the village of Horsell near Woking, brewed its final batch three weeks ago, founder John Mintram confirmed.
Owner's Frustration
John Mintram, who founded the brewery in 2012, said the business had survived austerity, the pandemic, and the cost of living crisis, but could not withstand what he described as a fresh wave of financial pressures. “We survived austerity, Covid and the cost of living crisis but not Rachel Thieves and the Labour Government,” he said, referring to Chancellor Rachel Reeves. “It’s just one thing after another - National Insurance rises, beer duty rises, the cost of resources. It’s just got harder and harder and it’s got to the point where it’s just not economical anymore.”
Mintram also criticised a “double taxation” trap, where Alcohol Duty is added to production costs and then VAT is applied on the total, effectively taxing the tax. He warned that the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme adds further costs for independent breweries by requiring them to fund packaging recycling.
Community Reaction
The closure has hit the local community hard, especially at The Crown pub, run by Mintram’s partner Antoinette. The pub, named CAMRA Pub of the Year 2026, was the original home of the brewery and now sells Thurstons’ remaining stock. Two of its six hand pumps are dedicated to Thurstons ales, which are expected to last only a few more weeks.
On Facebook, one customer wrote: “Gutted, Horsell Gold has become my favourite pint.” Another said: “Such a shame! Well done to this incompetent Government for driving yet another, once thriving business, into the ground.” Mintram added: “I've ruined many people's lives. One bloke came in and announced that he was starting a petition to keep it going.”
Simon, a colleague who worked at Thurstons for over a decade, will now work for the water board. “I really thought this would be my last job,” he said.
Political Response
Woking’s Liberal Democrat MP, Will Forster, raised the issue in Parliament, calling for an apology from the government and a debate on supporting the hospitality sector. He said Thurstons’ closure was “death by a thousand cuts” caused by cumulative measures. “From the unfair jobs tax, to hikes in business rates and the senseless Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, this is the direct consequence of a delusional Labour Government who think they can tax their way to growth,” Forster said.
Figures from the British Beer and Pub Association show 161 pubs went bust in the first three months of 2026, equivalent to two per day.
Government Response
A HM Treasury spokesperson said: “Our breweries are vital to Britain’s economy, so we’re making it easier for them to thrive: no export duty, lower licensing fees, reduced tariffs, and a cap on corporation tax. We also back small brewers through Small Producer Relief, and we’ve completed a review of whether big firms are blocking smaller breweries from getting into pubs - ministers are now considering the findings.”
