Matthew Hodgson

Matthew has been instrumental in establishing Great Newsome Brewery as one of the region’s leading independent breweries.

The Hodgson’s are progressive family farmers based east of Hull and along with his family, Matthew has helped develop other small business which work with and on the family’s farms. Matthew believes success in business can be put down to a strong work ethic and a can-do attitude which he attributes to his farming background.

Matthew studied a degree in aeronautical engineering in Hull at a time when the local aircraft manufacturing industry was in decline. On completing his degree, he returned to the family farm to farm alongside his brother and father. With pressure on farming incomes in the early 2000s the family looked to diversify their business and set up Great Newsome Brewery in 2007. Matthew headed up the business training to be a brewer, initially being brewer, drayman, sales person and debt collector all at the same time. As the business grew it began to employ local people and establish its name behind the bar of many good local pubs.

In January 2020 the business commissioned its biggest expansion to date doubling capacity with the installation of a new brewery and brewhouse. By the end of March 2020 COVID hit and with 85% of it’s business with pubs it hit a big problem as everything was locked down. The business pivoted and successfully established itself as an online retailer selling beer for home delivery. Even in 2026, its online store continues to be its single biggest customer.

Great Newsome Brewery supplies pubs, bars and shops all over Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire plus through distributors nationally. Great Newsome Brewery has exported beer to Italy since 2015 and currently supplies customers in Sweden also.

In 2024 Matthew saw another opportunity and saved the Little Valley Brewery organic beer brand which was set to disappear with the closure of the brewery. Great Newsome Brewery now both brew and sell Little Valley organic beers.

Matthew says his proudest moment in business is seeing his beer being sold and enjoyed in bars in Italy.

Matthew enjoys long distance hiking with his wife Donna. A highlight of many long-distance routes is in 2025 they walked and wild camped across the 10 islands of the Outer Hebrides covering 158 miles in 10 days.