Dominic Metcalfe has taken up his position as the first Managing Director of Great British Drinks Company, the recently formed UK beer subsidiary of Paramount Retail Group. He joins the business after around two and a half years as Managing Director of Buxton Brewery, bringing more than two decades of commercial experience in the British brewing industry.
Metcalfe has been appointed to lead the next stage of development for a portfolio that includes several established regional and craft beer businesses. Great British Drinks Company has said it intends to continue investing in the breweries and their brands while protecting their individual identities, maintaining brewing standards and rebuilding relationships with customers, suppliers and other trade partners.
The company was established following the acquisition of the Keystone Brewing Group portfolio in January 2026 (inside.beer, 24.1.2026). The rescue comprised an acquisition valued at approximately GBP 4.5m (USD 6.0m), together with a planned investment of more than GBP 2m (USD 2.7m), creating a total package commonly described as a GBP 6.5m (USD 8.7m) restoration deal.
The transaction safeguarded around 145 jobs and brought Black Sheep, Purity, Magic Rock, Fourpure, North, Brew By Numbers and Brick together with Saltaire under the Great British Drinks Company umbrella. The enlarged business had combined sales of approximately GBP 28m (USD 37.4m) at the time of the acquisition.
Paramount Retail Group has owned Saltaire Brewery since 2024. The family-owned group, whose directors include Great British Drinks Company co-founders Sunny Sharma and Ravi Sharma, has positioned the brewing business as a long-term home for regional brands rather than a vehicle for short-term consolidation. It has said that its priorities include protecting employment, investing in production capabilities and supporting sustainable commercial growth.
The brands acquired from Keystone had followed different paths into the former group. Several had previously experienced financial difficulties or changes of ownership. Breal Group, which was later renamed Keystone Brewing Group, had also closed the London production facilities used by Brew By Numbers and Brick Brewery and transferred production to Black Sheep Brewery in Masham (inside.beer, 22.2.2024).
Before joining Buxton Brewery in late 2023, Metcalfe held senior commercial positions at Thornbridge Brewery and Black Isle Brewing and worked for Timothy Taylor’s and Adnams. During his time at Buxton, he said the brewery secured new national and regional grocery listings, expanded its export markets, won national pub-company business and developed a rapidly growing e-commerce operation.
Announcing his new position on LinkedIn, Metcalfe described Great British Drinks Company as the steward of breweries and brands that had played an important role in his own career in beer. He highlighted Black Sheep, Purity, Magic Rock and North as brands that had helped shape both regional brewing and the modern British craft beer sector.
Meta Tags: Great British Drinks Company, Paramount Retail Group, Buxton Brewery, Keystone Brewing Group, Saltaire Brewery, Black Sheep Brewery, Purity Brewing, Magic Rock Brewing, Fourpure Brewing, North Brewing, Brew By Numbers, Brick Brewery, Thornbridge Brewery, Black Isle Brewing, Timothy Taylor’s, Adnams, Dominic Metcalfe, Sunny Sharma, Ravi Sharma, UK brewing, brewery rescue, craft beer, regional beer brands, brewery administration, brewing industry, UK
