Spotlight with Simon Theakston, Theakston Brewery

Come because you know the beer. Stay for the story behind it!

For more than 200 years, Theakston Brewery has remained one of Britain's most respected independent brewing businesses. Its story includes growth, family disagreements, changing markets, corporate ownership and, perhaps most remarkably, buying the company back.

Join Simon Theakston, Executive Chairman of T&R Theakston Brewery, as he reflects on more than four decades in the family business.

A fifth-generation descendant of the founder, Simon joined the brewery in 1981. In 1984, following differing wider family opinions, the company was taken over . Years later, Simon and three of his brothers led the successful buyback of the majority shareholding, returning the brewery to family ownership and helping secure its future as an independent business.

Today, as family custodian, Simon continues to guide the business through its next chapter, balancing growth with a commitment to quality, heritage, and long-term thinking.

The Conversation
Simon offers a fascinating perspective on questions that are bigger than brewing:

• Are you building a business to sell, or a business to last?
• How do you grow without compromising the standards that made your business successful?
• When should long-term thinking take priority over short-term opportunities?
• How do businesses navigate difficult decisions and differing views?
• What responsibility do founders have to the people, places, and businesses they leave behind?
  
  

What You’ll Take Away
Whether you're building to sell, to pass on, or simply for the long-term, Simon's story offers a rare perspective on what it takes to create an enduring business.

You'll leave with fresh thinking on balancing growth with quality, making decisions with a longer time horizon, and navigating the tensions that arise when commercial ambition, ownership, and legacy come together.

The Small Print
This event is for all members and partners of the Forum and will be held under Chatham House Rules, encouraging an open and honest conversation. Two guest places are available to ‘Ultimate’ and ‘Premium’ members - guests must be from your own company. 

Places are non-transferable. If you need to cancel, please let us know in advance so we can offer your place to someone else. 

We may share attendee names, job titles and companies with our event partners and other attendees, for networking purposes connected to this event. Should you wish to remove yourself from any delegate lists please let us know upon booking by emailing info@entrepreneursforum.net.