The Hall & Woodhouse Brewery in Blandford.
Published: September 5, 2024 | Updated: 5th September 2024
Hall & Woodhouse, the historic family-run brewery based in Blandford, has released its first-ever Impact Report, outlining key sustainability and community initiatives while reaffirming its long-standing commitment to people, communities, and the environment.
The report, which marks a significant milestone for the business founded in 1777, sets out ambitious goals for the company’s future, including achieving carbon neutrality and enhancing its contribution to local causes.
Managing Director Matt Kearsey introduced the report, highlighting the company’s enduring mission: “It’s why we exist. To make people’s day and to enrich our communities, from generation to generation.”
As Hall & Woodhouse approaches its 250th anniversary in 2027, the company has set three key targets:
The report showcases the company’s progress in balancing these goals with its day-to-day commercial success, while encouraging stakeholders to hold them accountable in the years to come.
The report outlines various sustainability projects, with a focus on reducing emissions across Hall & Woodhouse’s pubs and brewery. A new energy reduction initiative aims to cut energy use by 10 per cent in the next year, with kitchens in new and refurbished pubs switching to fully electric operations. From October 2024, Hall & Woodhouse plans to purchase 100 per cent green electricity.
Sustainability remains at the core of Hall & Woodhouse’s operations, from the way it runs its pubs to the production of its beers. The company’s brewery in Blandford is already a leader in energy efficiency, using nearly 50 per cent less water than the old facility. Solar panels and a wastewater treatment plant generate renewable electricity on site, and plans are in place to increase the brewery’s reliance on renewable energy sources in the coming years.
In 2023, Hall & Woodhouse raised £700,000 for local communities across the South of England. This included £140,000 from the Teddy Rocks festival supporting children with cancer, £100,000 raised at various pubs for local charities, and £60,000 for Mind and British Red Cross disaster relief.
The company’s long-standing Community Chest programme, which has been running for over 20 years, donated £55,000 to community groups in 2023. The report also highlights Hall & Woodhouse’s commitment to making its pubs more accessible, including a new trial of hearing loops in certain locations and virtual 3D tours to help guests with disabilities plan their visits.
As Hall & Woodhouse looks toward its 250th anniversary, it remains focused on building a business that benefits both its team and the communities it serves. The company is already celebrating an early win, having been named on the Sunday Times Best Places to Work list for 2024.
Tatiana Woodhouse, who reflected on the company’s achievements in the report’s afterword, summed up the company’s long-term vision: “Our history and heritage are a real source of pride for us. But if we envision another 250 years, continuing to care about our people, our communities, and our planet has got to be integral to what we do.”
