BOLTON’S only commercial micro-brewery has seen its profits rise despite economic pressures.

Privately-owned Bank Top Brewery in Sharples has lost around nine customers, due to pub closures, but its sales are only around one per cent down on last year.

Profit is up at the firm, although gross profit before tax is slightly down.

Though nine customers have been lost, the brewery has agreed to supply the Prince Rupert in Great Lever and the newly revamped Wilton Arms near Belmont.

Owner Dave Sweeney is also looking to buy a freehold pub to showcase the brewery’s beers along with other guest beers.

Mr Sweeney said he was disappointed with this week’s Pre-Budget Report.

He said: “I thought the Chancellor would think of the general beer drinking population and the small brewers but, unfortunately, I was wrong.

“At first, I thought the reduction in VAT would be good for us but then I realised that it was wiped out by the proposed increase in beer prices and petrol duty.

“I am absolutely furious with him. He may be Darling by name but he is not darling by nature.

“The brewing industry needs help but he is helping to destroy Britain’s heritage by these tax rises.”

Bank Top’s seven full-time and two part-time staff make 13 core beers, including mild, bitters and stouts.

They produce 200 to 220 nine-gallon barrels a week over a five day production period.

The company also has a small bottling line, which has produced 34,000 bottles in the last 12 months. With beer sales remaining relatively steady, a new market has been the growth of home parties — where the brewery supplies barrels of beer, hand pumps and even the loan of glasses.

The brewery sends two barrels of beer to the Boston Beer Festival, which then uses the same barrels to send American micro-brewery beer back to the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) beer festival held at the Olympia in London.

Though he wants to grow his business, Mr Sweeney is keen not to emulate the big brewers who routinely buy out smaller breweries and then promptly close them.

“We are a cottage industry with a cottage mentality and we want to stay that way.

“I didn’t buy this brewery to sell out to one of the big boys.

“I believe cask beers will survive in this country because of their individuality of the beers produced by micro-breweries around the country.”

The future for Bank Top looks good. In addition to good sales and plans to buy a pub, it also wants to buy another delivery vehicle for the firm’s Bolton ales.