2011 – The year it all began – Will and Gill’s garden shed was their storeroom and their dining table was the packing bench

8,500 – The size of our warehouse in square feet. It’s just as well we’ve got bigger, we’d never have got a fork lift truck in the garden shed

2022 – The year we became an employee owned company. Our staff are critical to our success and in the summer of 2022 they became 51% shareholders

550 – The number of independent breweries we have supported. Since we started we’ve bought beer from Shetland to the Isle of Wight & Northern Ireland

0 – The number of cans of mass produced beer, lager or cider we have sold!

250,000 – The number of individual orders we’ve dispatched since we started. Whether it’s a 3 pack gift or a 1000 bottle corporate order, everything is processed the same

50,000,000 – The number of bottles and cans of beer we’ve sold since 2011. Give or take the odd 1,000 units. Did you know we also sell cider too?

22,000 – The number of bottles/cans of beer we’ve had produced specially for us. We love a collaboration brew and there’s lots more planned in 2023

17 – The number of local, regional and national awards we’ve won. We’re equally as proud of our  National Packaging Award as we were being North Staffs Chamber Quiz Champions 2021

11 – The number of apprentices we’ve helped kick start their careers. We’ll never forget the contributions made by all our youngsters. Two of them are now co-owners!

5 – The maximum distance in miles between us and our key suppliers. Our designers, box makers and marketing partners are all in north Staffordshire

2 – The number of charity beer festivals we’ve hosted in our warehouse. We’ve enjoyed raising £1000s for local charities

4.8 – Our average FEEFO review score out of 5 for the last 2 years. Running an online business relies heavily on feedback – thanks to you, ours is Platinum class

Since the summer of 2022 all the team at Best of British Beer are owners of the company too. They were given a 51% share of the business and are fully involved in everything we do from product development to sales campaigns.

After a career in the licensed trade and being responsible for some of the best known nightclubs in the country, Will had a change of career in 2011 when Best of British Beer was founded. A keen Stoke City fan, one of Will’s claims to fame was starting the craze of going to England cricket matches in fancy dress. He went as Yogi Bear!

The majority of Gill’s early working life was spent with big finance companies, she was responsible for a number of call centres in both Britain and overseas. She’d never really enjoyed a beer before starting the company, preferring a glass of wine or a G&T. Gill once sold £30,000 of beer in 7 minutes on QVC!

Emily came to us as a 16 year old apprentice and is now responsible for order processing, fulfilment and social media. Her favourite drinks are fruit cider and craft lager, but she does like a hazy IPA. There aren’t many jobs she can’t do and as unofficial social secretary, she’s the life and soul of the party.

Cheryl has been with us since October 2019 and she might well be the first cheery voice you hear if you call us. The plaque on her desk says ‘Head of Customer Experience’, she’s very knowledgeable and focussed on making sure we send the right beers to the right people at the right time. Partial to a gin or Prosecco, Cheryl is also up for tasing some craft lagers from our range.

Cheryl’s sister Lorna first joined the Company during lockdown. Previously with luxury car maker Bentley, she is responsible for all the  systems in the office and uses her experience to manage all HR and training related tasks. When she’s not at work, she can be found tending her sheep and walking Dougie the cocker spaniel.

Tommy, our warehouseman joined the same time as Emily and like her, he’s developed into a key member of the team. His favourite tipple is cider and he’s built up a great knowledge of our range of producers. A fitness fanatic and regular gym goer he does a great job at keeping the building immaculately tidy.

Until James makes it as a professional golfer, he’s happy running the warehouse and logistics side of the business. He is a qualified beer sommelier and enjoys a wide range of different beers, but would draw the line at a rhubarb crumble and custard sour! Often found wearing a snorkel and flippers, James regularly plays Octopush, a sort of underwater hockey.

Jack joined us as an apprentice in 2023 as he’d moved up to the area from his native Hampshire. He gets a fair bit of stick for being a fan of Southampton FC but he takes it in good spirit. His favourite beverage is a fruit cider from Sandford Orchards or Celtic Marches.

The longest serving member of the team is Gary, We’ve lost count of the number of times he’s been brought out of retirement. You’ll find him here in the two week run up to Father’s Day and for the months of November and December. The only man we know who can assemble a whole beer advent calendar blindfolded.

Known as the ‘Gran with the Golden (tape) Gun’, Gill’s mum Kath will be found at BOBB HQ at the busiest times of year. A keen crafter and knitter, she has a great eye for detail and helps to make up some of our more complicated gifts. Ably assisted by Heidi, the dappled Dachshund she is approaching legendary status as a tea maker.