Celebrating 15 Years of the London Brewers Alliance

London’s connection with brewing stretches back more than 700 years, from the founding of the Brewers’ Guild in 1342 to the great porter breweries that dominated the 18th century and the huge industrial names of the 19th and 20th centuries. But by the early 2000s, after decades of closures and consolidations, brewing in the capital was at its lowest ebb. In 2007, London counted just ten breweries - the lowest number in its history.

A revival was beginning, led by new pioneers like Meantime and The Kernel, but in 2010 the scene was still fragile. It was at this moment that Phil Lowry, brewing at Brew Wharf in Southwark and inspired by the San Francisco Brewers Guild, decided London’s brewers needed to come together socially. That spring, he organised an informal dinner at Brew Wharf, bringing a dozen breweries around one table. Old names and new voices found common ground, and from that gathering the London Brewers Alliance was born.

Momentum built quickly. In September 2010, thirteen breweries - including Fuller’s, The Kernel, Camden, Redemption and others - gathered once more at Brew Wharf for the first London Brewers Showcase. It was modest in scale but groundbreaking in spirit, with more attendees than the venue could hold - and beer selling out just hours into the event, it was an announcement that London beer was back on the map.

A Year long celebration

Fifteen years later, the Alliance represents nearly 80 breweries, having peaked at 106 before the turbulence of COVID. Through growth and setbacks alike, its mission has remained the same: to celebrate, protect, and promote London beer.

This anniversary year will be marked with the LBA Festival at Birdhouse Brewery in September - almost 15 years to the day since the London Brewers Showcase. Other plans for this anniversary year include a series of member-hosted mini-festivals, and the launch of a major new communications strategy, including a new website, members’ portal, and expanded marketing to showcase the people and beers of London.

The Alliance has always been about collaboration and community - values that remain just as vital today as they were around that dinner table in 2010.

London brewing's decade of growth - from 13 to 106

In 2010, fewer than 15 breweries remained in London, the founding members included:

From these thirteen, the Alliance took shape. Within just two years, the LBA had grown to 35 members. By 2017, the number of London breweries had exploded, and the LBA proudly represented 90. At its peak, in early 2020, membership reached 106 breweries, making London one of the most dynamic brewing cities in the world.

The times that followed were turbulent. The pandemic closed doors and disrupted trade across the industry. Some members were lost along the way, others moved away from London to reduce costs, but the Alliance endured. Today, the LBA remains strong, representing around 80 breweries and supported by a growing network of trade partners.

Festivals and Milestones

That first Showcase in 2010 was modest, but it captured the spirit of collaboration and pride in London beer. It was also pioneering in London, with one commentator at the time noting: "With the brewers themselves serving their beers and happy to talk to the punters about them, it was the kind of 'meet the brewer' show common in the US but almost unheard of in the UK."

Over the years, the LBA Festival grew to become a highlight of the city’s beer calendar, drawing thousands of enthusiasts and industry figures alike.

While festivals in recent years have been held at Fuller's Griffin Brewery, this year, the Festival marks a shift - moving to Birdhouse Brewery in Herne Hill from 25–28 September -  the centrepiece of our 15th anniversary celebrations. Alongside this shift, the LBA plans to organise a series of mini-festivals, each hosted by member breweries throughout the coming year, ensuring London beer is celebrated in every corner of the Capital.

Looking Ahead

Our 15th anniversary is more than a milestone, it is a launchpad for the future of London brewing, with the LBA embarking on its most ambitious programme yet, kicking of with an all-new communications strategy. This will include the introduction of  a fully functional members’ portal and a completely redesigned website, both planned to arrive in early 2026. In addition, we're investing in fresh marketing and storytelling initiatives to really support our member breweries during these more difficult times.

We are also exploring new ways for members to showcase our members, with some early ideas including:

• Crafted in the Capital: a mark members can use on packaging, pump clips, and taproom signage to proudly associate their beer as being brewed in London.

• Digital membership badges: easily updatable assets for websites and social media, showing live affiliation with the LBA.

• Extending existing partnerships to improve discoverability of our members' beers and highlighting where they are pouring, giving drinkers better ways to discover authentic London beer.

• Extended training opportunities - over the past few years we've elevated our bi-monthly meetings with a free technical session provided by our trade supporters. We plan to build on this to bring together full-day training opportunities, featuring a range of technical and practical workshops, keynote and roundtables - available exclusively to our members.

• Plus a number of really exciting and groundbreaking new initiatives, that we're not quite ready to share just yet.

Unity and Resilience

Fifteen years on, the LBA remains guided by the same principles that inspired its founders: collaboration, promotion, and pride in London beer. The past decade and a half has brought growth, challenges, setbacks, and triumphs - yet through it all, the Alliance has proudly stood together - often with a beer in hand.

As we begin this year-long celebration, we raise a glass to our members past and present, and to the next chapter of London brewing.