Controversial Scottish beer brand Brewdog is set to open its first pub in Northern Ireland, inside Belfast’s new Grand Central Station. Translink boss Chris Conway confirmed the high profile beer manufacturer will be among the new retail and hospitality tenants for the £340 million transport hub, which is due to open in phases from September 8.
Pret A Manager and Marks & Spencer are also due to operate new units within the station, Mr Conway told BBC Radio Ulster on Tuesday morning. Brewdog opened its first Irish outlet in Dublin during 2019. It now has 121 locations worldwide.
More: Controversial beer brand Brewdog to open in Belfast’s new Grand Central Station
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The Scottish business, which launched in 2007, has often courted controversy through its marketing campaigns and workplace culture.
Former workers published an open letter in 2021 describing a “culture of fear” within the business with “toxic attitudes” to junior staff.
The company was also the subject of a 2022 BBC Disclosure investigation, where ex-workers accused co-founder James Watt of inappropriate behaviour.
Mr Watt denied the allegations. Ofcom later rejected complaints that Brewdog and Mr Watt were unfairly treated.
The Brewdog boss stepped down as CEO in May 2024 to the newly-created position of “captain and co-founder”.
He retains his shares in the company.
Brewdog also faced criticism in January this year, when it said would no longer hire new staff on the real living wage, and instead pay the lower legal UK minimum wage.
The latest available accounts for the beer business show it generated a revenue of £321.2m in 2022.
According to Companies House, Brewdog has not filed its 2023 accounts, which were due by June 30 2024.
The relocation of bus services to the new Grand Central Station on September 8 is expected to trigger the planned redevelopment of the Europa bus station by MRP.
The Irish News previously revealed the Co Tyrone developer’s plans to transform the site and the Great Northern Mall into a new food market destination.
No date has been provided for the opening of rail services at the new Grand Central Station.
Chris Conway told BBC Radio Ulster that rail infrastructure needs to be approved by safety authorities, but he added that he hoped to be able to announce a rail launch date “soon”.
