LANCASTER BREWERY - Key Persons
A 45 minute tour of the Brewery with 5 samples at the bar to follow.
Mark has worked at Lancaster Brewery since 2007, starting alongside Matt and Will and bringing experience in warehousing and logistics to the firm. Having worked in the licensed trade for 35 years, he's seen and done it all, including supplying music festivals with real ale bars with up to 80 hand pulls.
He lives in sunny Morecambe by the sea with his wife, Anne, their two children, Abigail and Aaron, as well as Jasper the dog. Over the last 10 years, the rapid growth of Lancaster Brewery has seen Mark oversee all aspects of the business, along with having over 25 staff members to keep happy and motivated!
In his almost non-existent spare time, Mark enjoys eating out, riding his Honda VFR 800, walking his dog, going to beer festivals, and watching movies. He dreams of the exhilaration of trying his hand at gliding.
Mark joined the Lancaster Brewery team after many successful years working across a number of local and national brewing and pub groups. Leading the sales team, he's often the face of the brewery for our many pub stockists across the UK.
For all Mark's many obvious talents, he keeps some of his more interesting passions very much in the background. For 30 years, Mark has held a season ticket at Bolton Wanderers. He is married to the extremely tolerant Alison who is often found collecting Mark outside some of the best watering holes in the Preston area.
Mark enjoys walking Snoop the dog in some of Lancashire's finest countryside and can, again, be found enjoying a pint and sausage roll at one of his favourite rural retreats.
Matt Jackson has had a colourful 24-years-and-counting long career, with pursuits in Castle Hotel in Lancaster, Black Bull Inn Paradise in Shrewsbury, the Ardwick in Blackpool, The Windmill in Gloucester, Horst City Tavern in Bristol and, finally, the start of C2 Investment in 2002 with the purchase of the Water Witch. The rest is history.
Living in Arnside with Sarah, his wife, his ‘96 and ‘97 born sons, William and David, along with Purdy the dog, Matt describes his interests and hobbies as being ‘beer, politics, walking fells and long distance paths, beer, cricket, karaoke with beer, rugby, beer, and always being right'.
Interesting fact: Matt was engaged for 18 years before conceding defeat.
Nicola joined Lancaster Brewery in 2012 after relocating back to her Lancaster home town from London where she served 8 years in the recruitment industry. She describes herself as 'a proud Lancastrian'.
Phil worked for almost fifteen years for a UK based PLC after graduating in 1994, working his way up the usual greasy poles to reach the dizzying heights of Business Director by the age of 29. Always fascinated by the world of pubs, he meandered into the murky world of licensed premises with old university friend Matthew Jackson in 2002 with the purchase of the Water Witch in Lancaster. Very much the more hermit-like of the two, Phil is happiest in the dark working on the business and planning something. Or other.
Will grew up in Reading and moved to Lancaster in 1998 to study at Lancaster University. After getting his honours degree in 2001 and his masters degree in 2004, he started working for (the then newly-established) Lancaster Brewery in 2005! He was the first (and only) employee. After training with a well-established brewery for more practical brewing experience, his first task at Lancaster Brewery was to dig out the drain channels before the equipment could be installed.
His job role now encompasses all areas of production. Much of his work involves planning, cleaning, and administration. On the production side, he is responsible for the recipes and the hands-on brewing of all our products. As well as being responsible for the training of the production team, he also takes care of quality control procedures and ensuring that Lancaster Brewery complies with and maintains its SALSA standard.
Will has two young sons and, as a result, claims to have no hobbies of his own. Instead, he ensures that they both attend their football training, matches, and classes, as well as the ridiculous number of birthday parties that they are invited to.