No Stranger to the best of Ilkley Brewery’s beverages

The company, which has just moved into a 2,600 sq ft brewery, yesterday revealed that its sales director, Richard Shelton, has become an equal shareholder in the business along with founders Chris Ives and Stewart Ross.

Mr Shelton joined the Ilkley Brewery shortly after it opened two years ago.

Mr Shelton said yesterday: “I think we have all been overwhelmed at the rate at which the business has progressed over the last two years and it is very encouraging to see our range doing so well.

“It’s always great to see people enjoying our beer, especially if they don’t know I’ve had a hand in making it.”

Mr Shelton will continue in his role as the brewery’s sales director. He will also be involved in the strategic development of the business along with Mr Ives and Mr Ross.

Mr Shelton added: “I hope we can continue to build on the success we have achieved so far and carry on growing our number of loyal supporters.”

Before joining the Ilkley Brewery, Mr Shelton worked for 15 years at medical equipment manufacturer Don Whitley Scientific in Shipley, West Yorkshire.

Ilkley Brewery was created in spring 2009 by Mr Ives and Mr Ross when they invested £70,000 of their own money in an eight-barrel brew plant.

The firm has left Lencia Trading Estate, in Ilkley, where it had the capacity to brew 4,600 pints a week, and moved into a site on Ashlands Road in the town.

The brewery’s beers, which include Mary Jane and Ilkley Best, are now sold in Asda and Booths supermarkets as well as being on 25 permanent pumps in pubs around the region. Mary Jane is on sale in the House of Commons’ Strangers Bar.

The brewery, which has seven staff, turned over £294,000 with pre-tax profits of £46,000 last year, and is so far on course to increase that to £750,000 in 2011.

The idea stemmed from a desire to re-establish brewing in the spa town after the disappearance of the original Ilkley Brewery and Aerated Water Company name, in the 1920s. The company’s ales have won awards at beer festivals in Bradford, Ilkley, Horsforth, Guiseley and Leyburn.