Sunderland brewery beats coronvirus lockdown with drive through takeway service

Sunderland’s Maxim Brewery, producer of legendary local ales such as Double Maxim and Samson, is taking payment over the phone before laying orders out alphabetically on a table for motorists to safely collect from the back doors of its premises.

Mark Anderson, the brewery’s managing director, said the venture is increasing in popularity since its launch before Easter.

He added: “When the Government closed the pubs we lost two thirds of our trade overnight.

“Then people were having problems getting supplies from the supermarkets because of the queues or because some supermarkets were limiting customers to three bottles of beer.

“So we thought it was an idea to allow people to pay over the phone and collect them here from a table outside the brewery, where orders are placed in alphabetical order, while we watch from a safe distance.”

Beers on offer include bottles of Double Maxim brown ale and Maximus strong ale while a variety of other brews such as Samson and Sour Cherry and Chocolate Stout are available in nine-pint mini casks.

Mr Anderson, who founded the company following the demise of the city’s fabled Vaux Breweries in 1999, said: “Word is getting around and it is becoming more and more popular.

“We are still producing a little bit of beer with our excess yeast to ensure the continuity of our beers remains the same.

“We are also hoping to have some more beer bottled within the next couple of weeks by a local company.

“These would include Double Maxim, Maximus, Swedish Blonde and Raspberry Porter.”

Maxim Brewery has had to place seven members of staff on the Government’s furlough pay scheme since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic decimated its orders.

Mini casks and trays of eight-12 bottles are available by phoning the brewery from 9.30am on (0191) 5848844 with beers then placed on tables by the brewery’s back doors, at 1 Gadwall Road, Rainton Bridge, near Houghton, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 10am-2pm.

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