What is the difference between an expansion loan and asset finance?

Asset finance is tied directly to a physical, tangible item (like a tank or canning line) and the lender owns that item until it is paid off. An expansion loan provides cash directly into your bank account, which you can use for intangible costs like marketing, wages, or groundworks.

Do I need to provide a personal guarantee?

For unsecured business loans, a Personal Guarantee (PG) from the directors is almost always required by the lender. Secured loans are tied to business assets or property, but may still require a PG depending on the lender's criteria.

How much can my brewery borrow?

Loan amounts depend on your brewery's turnover, profitability, existing commitments, purpose for the funding, and ability to afford repayments. Different lenders assess these factors in different ways.

How fast can we access the funds?

Timescales depend on the lender, facility size, security, and how complete the supporting information is. Having current accounts, bank statements, forecasts, and a clear expansion plan ready can reduce avoidable delays.

Business Loans

Working capital loans for brewery expansion

Growing a brewery requires more than just tanks. You need capital for marketing, hiring sales staff, entering new markets, and buying ingredients at scale. We arrange flexible unsecured and secured loans to fuel your growth.

Speak to an Adviser Breweries Hub

Speak with Arran or Graham

£10k - £2m+

Loan amounts

1-5 years

Typical terms

150+

Lender panel

From 48hrs

Funding speed

How brewery expansion loans help

Independent broker with an extensive panel of 150+ UK lenders. No upfront fees.

Unsecured Working Capital

Fast, flexible funding without tying up physical assets. Ideal for marketing campaigns, rebranding, hiring key personnel, or covering the initial cashflow gap when taking on large new wholesale accounts.

Secured Business Loans

For larger expansion projects, securing a loan against property or other significant business assets can provide access to higher borrowing limits, longer repayment terms, and lower interest rates.

Economies of Scale

Use working capital to purchase hops, malt, and packaging materials in bulk. The cost savings achieved through volume discounts often outweigh the interest cost of the loan, immediately improving your margins.

Site Expansion & Relocation

Moving to a larger industrial unit involves significant costs: deposits, legal fees, floor reinforcements, and drainage works. A business loan covers these intangible costs that asset finance cannot.

What you can fund

Specialist finance options to match your requirements.

Bulk ingredient purchases

Marketing & rebranding

Hiring sales & production staff

Export & distribution costs

Site relocation expenses

Floor & drainage groundworks

Trade show & event setups

Working capital buffer

Website & e-commerce upgrades

Merchandise inventory

Bridging late invoice payments

Licensing & compliance fees

Who you could speak to

Arran Turner

Managing Director

General commercial finance and how Sorbus works

Profile

Graham Nash

Commercial Finance Director

Business loans, cash flow and wider commercial funding

Profile

STEP 1
A conversation with a broker
You talk to a real Sorbus broker about the business, the purpose and what is affordable. No application at this stage.
STEP 2
Credit placement
If you choose to go further, we prepare the case and decide which lenders on our panel of 150+ are worth approaching.
STEP 3
Lender assessment
The lender, not Sorbus, underwrites and makes the credit decision. Approval is never guaranteed.
STEP 4
Documentation
If a lender offers terms and you accept, we help coordinate agreements and payout paperwork with you.

Every step after the first is optional. You can stop after the conversation. Sorbus is a broker, not a lender.

Client journey

Explore real client journeys

Read how real businesses approached a funding goal, what Sorbus arranged and what happened next.

Browse anonymised case studies

Enquire about Brewery Expansion Loans

Start with a conversation

Tell us a little about what you need and who you would like to speak to. No obligation, no credit check at this stage. We aim to respond within one business day, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm.

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Prefer to call?

Speak directly to an adviser Monday–Friday, 9am–5:30pm.

01246 383500

Free call. No obligation.

Unique to Sorbus Finance

Optional: Business Finance Health Check

Before you approach lenders, understand your borrowing readiness with our free Business Finance Health Check, tailored for UK businesses.

Take the short Health Check

Free · No credit check · Not required before you talk

Want the full picture? The full fact-find is longer and also optional.

Email us anytime

hello@sorbusfinance.co.uk

Free tool

Know your lending position before you apply

The Business Finance Health Check scores your readiness to borrow, business resilience, and growth potential. Free, under 5 minutes, no obligation.

Run your free Health Check

Questions answered

Common queries about business loans.

Ready to scale your brewery?

Speak to our finance specialists to find the right working capital solution for your expansion plans.

01246 383500 Breweries Hub