Nick stafford’s Hambleton Ales was established in 1991 in the hamlet of Holme on Swale, situated on the banks of the River Swale in the heartland of Hambleton District.



Nick Stafford was made redundant twice within seven months during the worst recession since the Second World War and set out to earn a living without relocating.

Despite severe underfunding, and after only a few months, awards, employment and growth were significant features of this business. Financial targets were met months early (the first year's turnover being £100,000) and after just three years the brewery had to be relocated within the hamlet.

In 1997 Hambleton Ales gained the coveted award of CAMRA Champion Winter Beer of Britain for its Nightmare brand. Nightmare is now exported regularly to the USA. Turnover is now over £1 million.

Never compromising on quality of products or service, Nick and his wife, Sally, developed a small family business dedicated to those living in Yorkshire and the North East. Local people are employed, now numbering 15 and wherever possible local suppliers are used. Malted barley, the main ingredient, is purchased exclusively from Fawcetts of Castleford.

Needless to say, Hambleton Ales serves many local communities because it is the brewery’s business to supply Yorkshire pubs and restaurants. Private individuals are very important customers, as parties, weddings and anniversaries are constantly being celebrated with ale from its home delivery service. Local off licences are supplied, as are ASDA, Threshers and Tescos. It is company policy to support local schools and sports clubs with supplies of refreshments for their fund-raising events at less than cost price.

Innovation has been the core of the brewery operation, not just in the recipes of new beers which are created every month, but also the design and manufacture of brewing and bottling equipment used exclusively by Hambleton Ales. As part of the Millennium celebrations the largest brewer in the UK, Scottish Courage, commissioned Hambleton Ales to bottle its four commemorative beers. No other bottling company in the UK was able to provide the quality of service demanded. Bottling of beers from 30 other Yorkshire breweries is undertaken by contract.

In February, 2005, Nick Stafford’s ‘Hambleton Ales Gluten and Wheat Free Ale’ (GFA) was launched. It is the first British brewed beer of its type, providing the full flavour and satisfaction expected from a beer but in a gluten free formulation. Nick Stafford spent several years researching and developing bottling and filtration techniques. His recent breakthrough in brewing this unique ale has presented him with the opportunity of meeting demand from the UK’s 100,000 coeliacs. There is now a sister product, GFL – a gluten free lager.

Investment in the rapidly growing business continued in 2007 with the commissioning of a £150,000 filtration and bottling line, enabling the business to meet an urgent £50,000 order to the U.S., and the opening of a £700,000 new brewery in the autumn.

Nick Stafford is also Commercial Director of the Society Of Independent Brewers (SIBA) and helped create the SIBA Direct Delivery Scheme which is a co-operative effort by the UK’s local brewers to sell to multiple retailers such as Enterprise Inns and Threshers. Thus Hambleton Ales is very much at the heart of the ‘local beer revolution’ taking place for consumers in the pub and at home.