Friends with passion for beer launch Hartlepool-based brewery

Two friends have turned their passion for beer into a brewery business.

Pat Garrett and Gary Olvanhill worked together for 30 years at a North East oil refinery, but when faced with the choice of taking redundancy or relocating to a different plant, they decided instead to launch Crafty Monkey Brewing Co.

The company, based near Hartlepool, has since taken off with the help of RTC North.

Pat and Gary attended an RTC North event for newly established businesses and were introduced to the organisation’s Innovate 2 Succeed team.

David Boath, innovation specialist at RTC North, worked with the pair to develop their brewery idea.

Gary said: “David from RTC provided us with loads of help including a business development plan, copywriting and business mentoring.

“We’ve had 30 years in industry, so manufacturing is second nature to us but everything else is new. When we hit a stumbling block or just need advice David is at the end of the phone and we feel he has gone that extra mile to help us. Nothing has been a problem for him.”

When Pat and Gary were establishing Crafty Monkey Brewing, RTC supported them in areas including research, branding, marketing and sales.

David Boath commented: “Seeing Crafty Monkey Brewing Co get to where they are now in such a steady and healthy way and being able to contribute to their development has been an incredible experience for myself and my colleagues at RTC.

“It’s been a fantastic journey taking them upwards on the business ladder thanks to the Innovate 2 Succeed programme and I am looking forward to seeing where they end up in the future, which I’m sure will be positive and fruitful for them!”

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →