From Beer Deliveries to Craft Ale Success: Saul Press’s Entrepreneurial Journey
In the heart of Norwich, a remarkable entrepreneurial story has unfolded—one that began with a simple bicycle, a passion for quality beer, and the determination to forge a new path during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Saul Press, the founder of Beer Hatch, has been recognized as one of just fourteen business owners across the UK to be named a Start Up Loans 2025 Ambassador. This honor celebrates his creative journey from makeshift beer delivery service to acclaimed craft ale shop owner, showcasing the possibilities that exist for entrepreneurs willing to take calculated risks even during challenging times. Press’s story serves as an inspiring reminder that with the right support, passion, and perseverance, small businesses can not only survive but thrive in today’s competitive marketplace.
Press’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2020 when the pandemic left him without work in his marketing career. Rather than waiting for the job market to improve, he decided to pursue his genuine passion: quality craft beer. With a modest £1,500 Start Up Loan, Press created an innovative solution to two problems simultaneously—his own employment situation and the challenge facing local pubs with excess stock they couldn’t sell during lockdowns. Mounting his bicycle, he began delivering craft beers throughout Norwich, creating not just a service but a personal connection with customers who were themselves isolated at home. This humble beginning, pedaling through the streets with deliveries, laid the foundation for what would become a flourishing business rooted in community and quality products.
As pandemic restrictions eased, Press demonstrated remarkable adaptability by transforming his business model without losing sight of his core values. In what became a local attraction and conversation piece, he established what he called “the UK’s smallest off-license”—operating from a repurposed traditional red telephone box in Norwich. This creative use of minimal space caught the public’s imagination and generated substantial word-of-mouth marketing that would have been difficult to achieve through conventional advertising. The novelty and charm of this tiny shop, combined with Press’s curated selection of quality beers, proved so successful that expansion became not just possible but necessary. With a second Start Up Loan of £6,000 and guidance from First Enterprise, one of the programme’s Business Support Partners, Press was able to open Beer Hatch—a proper craft beer shop in central Norwich in 2023.
The evolution from bicycle deliveries to brick-and-mortar establishment represents more than just business growth; it demonstrates how entrepreneurship can help individuals redefine their careers around their passions. “I used to work in marketing, but during lockdown I started reflecting on what I really wanted to do next. I realised my true passion was a good beer!” Press explains. His second loan facilitated the purchase of essential equipment including six draught taps to create a small bar experience within the shop and refrigeration units to properly store and showcase local beers and ales. This thoughtful expansion preserved the local focus and quality-first approach that had defined his business from the beginning. The shop has quickly become not just a retail space but a destination that contributes to Norwich’s growing reputation as a craft beer hub, with Press noting, “The beer scene in Norwich is truly unmatched, drawing many visitors for beer tours and tastings.”
The recognition of Beer Hatch by The Times as one of the top eight independent beer shops in the entire UK validates Press’s business approach and highlights the increasing consumer preference for specialized local businesses offering unique products. “I believe people really enjoy shopping local and discovering unique beers that they wouldn’t necessarily find anywhere else,” Press observes, touching on a significant shift in consumer values that has accelerated since the pandemic. This national recognition, along with his selection as a Start Up Loans Ambassador, places Press in distinguished company. The Ambassador program, now in its tenth year, celebrates entrepreneurs who demonstrate exceptional determination, innovation and resilience while inspiring others to pursue their own business dreams. Previous Ambassadors have gone on to achieve remarkable growth, with sportswear brand Castore—now valued at approximately £1 billion—standing as the most valuable business ever supported by the program.
The Start Up Loans programme, which has provided more than £1.27 billion in funding to over 125,000 businesses since its inception in 2012, represents a vital pathway for entrepreneurs who might otherwise struggle to access traditional financing. With 40% of loan recipients being women and 20% coming from minority ethnic backgrounds, the program addresses crucial gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. As Louise McCoy, Managing Director of Start Up Loans Products at the British Business Bank notes, stories like Press’s serve to “encourage other aspiring business owners to bring their start-up plans to life.” For his part, Press will spend the next year participating in various engagements designed to inspire potential entrepreneurs, demonstrating that with passion, community focus, and appropriate support, even the most modest beginnings—like delivering beer on a bicycle during a global pandemic—can evolve into thriving businesses that contribute meaningfully to local economies and culture. From a telephone box to national recognition, Saul Press’s journey embodies the entrepreneurial spirit the Start Up Loans programme aims to nurture across the United Kingdom.
