Moray microbrewery Windswept to close
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Windswept Brewing in Lossiemouth has announced it is closing down due to rising costs and falling sales.
The microbrewery started out as the idea of former RAF pilots Nigel Tiddy and Al Read.
Beer-lovers who had previously made regular batches of home brew, the pair opened their business on Coulardbank Industrial Estate in 2012.
At its height it had a dozen staff, but more latterly employs five.
Announcing the closure, Mr Tiddy said: "Over the last few years, the craft brewing industry has faced an increasing number of challenges that have had a significant impact on our viability as a business.
"Unfortunately, spiralling energy and raw material costs and falling sales throughout the craft beer industry, caused largely by the cost-of-living crisis, have left us in the position where we are no longer able to ride out the storm.
"We’ve come a long way since our first brew in November 2012. We’ve experienced lots of highs and lows but importantly we’ve made some fantastic lifelong memories and lifelong friends."
Windswept opened its tap room in 2018 and was given a four-star Visit Scotland award at the end of 2021.
Mr Tiddy added: "We’ve produced some great beers and won more awards than we have space for."
"We are very proud of that but mindful that none of this would have been achieved without the support of our customers and local community."
The company's name was chosen with the beaches at Lossiemouth in mind, while several of the beers it produced referred directly to the locality.
'Tornado' was named in homage of the planes that flew out of the nearby RAF base, while 'Lighthouse' was a nod to the structure just down the coast at Covesea.
The company will continue online sales until Monday, January 29.
Its tap room and shop will remain open until Saturday, February 3.
There's an open invitation for folk to attend farewell parties in the tap room on the last Friday and Saturday.
