A BREWER will buy 40 pubs in a £30m expansion to tap into drinkers’ cravings for new tipples.

Camerons Brewery aims to grow as it takes advantage of the clamour for US-inspired craft ales.

The business is also creating new jobs at its bottling plant and releasing six new beers.

The move comes as worries over the pub industry continue, with the Campaign for Real Ale this week calling on the Government to cut beer tax amid claims 27 venues are closing across the UK every week.

However, John Foots, Camerons’ finance director, told The Northern Echo the firm is well placed to avoid such anxieties, adding it has exciting times ahead.

Mr Foots said its £30m plans include proposals to open more leased and tenanted sites, as well as further branches under its Head of Steam moniker.

The latter pride themselves on offering drinkers local and international cask and craft beers, as well as high-end wines, spirits and cocktails, with sommeliers trained to whet drinkers’ appetites with expert knowledge on brands’ finer points.

He said: “Key to where we are is our managed house division, which includes Head of Steam, and that is really pushing out to the discerning consumer.

“We are growing that side of the business, with new outlets in Newcastle and Headingley, and looking at other areas, such as Harrogate, York and Hull.

“These 40 pubs will not all be Head of Steam though, they will be part of our leased and tenanted division too.

“There are still pubs closing, and groups are still changing their estates, but the rate of closures is slowing, beer volumes are not in decline, and we are at a level where are planning to grow the business.”

Camerons, which sponsors Hartlepool United’s shirts, says it expansion will give it 110 pubs in its retail group across the North in the next five years.

Mr Foots said Head of Steam will complement that by luring the next generation of drinkers and their changing palates.

He added: “Head of Steam is wonderfully quirky and innovative; they are not just about ordering a pint of lager or beer.

“They offer a whole experience and our sommeliers’ knowledge mean they can talk people through our brands, such as our new Tontine milk stout, and what they taste like.

“It’s a better level of service.

“There are only 107 official beer sommeliers worldwide, so to have a significant proportion of the world’s total in our Northern pubs is a fantastic thought.”

He also said it was important to continue strengthening the business’ Hartlepool bottling plant, which has benefited from a £1.5m investment and can deliver 10,000 bottles every hour.

He added: “We want to become a one-stop shop and focusing on the bottling plant is absolutely the right thing to do.”

Camerons is being supported by HSBC on its expansion, with the bank hailing the brewer’s vision.

Tony Leech, HSBC area director for corporate banking in the North-East, said: “Camerons has reported a 14 per cent increase in profit for 2015 and firmly have their sights set on further growth.

“They are a great example of a company thriving in the North-East, and we look forward to supporting the growth of their estates in the future.”

The finance package was drawn from HSBC’s £8bn small and medium-sized business fund, which dedicates £150m across Teesside and Tyneside.

Camerons has pubs across the region, including Hogans, in Darlington, the Mill House, in Hartlepool, and the Red Lion, in Peterlee, east Durham.

Its Head of Steam range includes The Dun Cow, in Sunderland, as well as sites in Durham City and Norton, near Stockton.