Marble Beers: Director resigns over bullying and harassment claims

Ms Rogers said it was her "ultimate responsibility to ensure good practice"

A brewery's managing director has resigned over "historical" allegations of bullying and sexual harassment within the company.

Jan Rogers has left the role at Manchester's Marble Beers following allegations made on social media.

In a statement, she said she wanted to offer a "wholehearted" apology to staff "who suffered unduly".

A spokesman for the brewery said it would "investigate thoroughly the past culture within the company".

Marble Beers runs two pubs in Greater Manchester - the Marble Arch in Manchester and Marble Tap Room in Salford - and sells its range in shops and pubs across the country.

The business has faced criticism in recent days over its treatment of staff in posts shared by writer Siobhan Hewison, under her pen name British Beer Girl, on social media from a number of people who asked to remain anonymous.

She said she decided to collate stories from the UK after being inspired by a similar campaign by American brewer Brienne Allan, who is known online as Ratmagnet.

She said she had "worked in the beer industry for three-and-a-half years and have experienced my fair share of sexism and harassment".

It has been quite disappointing and eye-opening compiling all these stories, but it's not surprising," she said, adding that she loved the industry and "wanted to use my platform to do whatever I can to help enact change".

'Negative working culture'

One person, who shared a post with Ms Hewison, said Marble Beers was "the most toxic company I have ever worked for, and it's really well known in Manchester for being horrible to the point that it's a joke".

"The attitude to the staff working in the bars is disgusting," the poster continued.

They said the firm "make out like they are progressive and support women [but] as a woman... I can categorically say they do not".

Another post said the "number of horror stories from my short time at the Marble are ridiculous," adding: "I know at least six other who can testify to the same."

The firm runs two pubs and sells its products across the country

In her statement, Ms Rogers said as director of the company, it was her "ultimate responsibility to ensure good practice".

"While I may not have been directly involved in what appears to be a negative working culture, it happened on my watch and therefore the buck stops with me," she said.

She added that people should remember that "there is a team of people who work here who have nothing to do with the historical allegations that have been made and they do not deserve to be abused online or in person".

Ms Rogers remains employed by Marble Beers in a non-leadership role.

A spokesman said the company was saddened by her plans to step down and thanked her for "being the pioneer she has been for women in the industry".

He said a new leadership team would be put in place, whose "first priority" would be to "ensure no member of staff or our community is currently suffering due to their work".

He added the team would also "investigate thoroughly the past culture within the company and... learn lessons on how we need to improve the support we provide to our staff and our wider community".

Clarification 20 August 2021: This article has been updated to make clear that Jan Rogers remains employed by Marble Beers in a non-leadership role.

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