Stroud Brewery could go bankrupt without public support, with the business losing £20,000 a month in lockdown according to its owner.

Coronavirus restrictions have caused their sales to drop 80% but they still have to pay rent, insurance and for organic certification.

The brewery has launched a crowdfunding campaign selling memberships with discounts and offering ‘pre-sales’ of its organic beer, which they hope will raise £100,000.

“I want to be clear that we are struggling, as every hospitality business is,” said Greg Pilley, owner of Stroud Brewery, which employs 25 full time staff.

“Potentially we could go bankrupt, that is the worst case scenario.

We’re doing everything we can – haggling with our landlord, looking for other ways to stimulate cash flow, and we’re lobbying our MP to give us VAT holiday,” he added.

In an attempt to diversify, the company has installed a canning machine to package fresh beer on site and is working with partners such as River Cottage to grow UK and export sales – but their efforts aren’t enough to make ends meet.

Mr Pilley said that while smaller pubs can shut down and go into stasis, the brewery pays £10,000 a month in rent alone and £25,000 in fixed overheads.

Last week, Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie wrote to the business secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, asking the Government to allow pubs to sell takeaway alcohol, as only supermarkets and off-licenses are allowed to do so under lockdown restrictions.

“Enabling pubs to anything that enables a little bit of trade safely is a good thing,” said Mr Pilley, adding that he hoped Ms Baillie would push for lower rates of small brewers duty relief.

To support Stroud Brewery in its fundraising campaign, you can donate, purchase beer in advance or join the Hop Club, which entitles you to a hop plant in the post, 9 pints of 2021 “Brewers Garden” Pale Ale – their green hopped beer brewed in October – and a Stroud Brewery t-shirt.

Alternatively you can buy a Beer Club Membership which comes with 10% off all purchases from their website and bar for 5 years.

Every person who donates will receive tickets to Stroud Brewery’s Survival Supporters & Brilliant Beer Backers Party, coming after pandemic restrictions end.