ONE of North Yorkshire’s most popular breweries is to be sold by the end of this year.

Sean and Alison Franklin, who founded Roosters Brewery in Knaresborough in 1994, have exchanged contracts to sell the firm to Ian Fozard. The sale will complete at the end of 2011.

Mr Fozard is managing director of Knaresborough-based Market Town Taverns, which owns a number of pubs across North Yorkshire including Brigantes in York, but is acting in a personal capacity.

His sons, Oliver and Tom Fozard, will shortly join Roosters. Alison and Sean will continue to own and run the brewery until the end of the year and during 2012, Sean and Alison have agreed to remain involved on a consultancy basis.

Oliver Fozard has been a brewer for almost 11 years, firstly with Daleside Brewery in Harrogate, and latterly with Copper Dragon in Skipton. His brother Tom has retail experience with the Beer Ritz chain.

Ian said: “I am proud to have been approached by Sean & Alison to take over the brewery. My sons and I are looking forward to working with them during the next eight months.

“We’re determined to maintain the innovation and high quality standards for which Roosters beers are highly renowned.”

Sean Franklin said: “I’ve known Ian for 30-plus years and I’m confident that the brewery will be in good hands. I’m looking forward to introducing Oliver and Tom to the dark arts of Rooster’s brewing process. Then I’m going fishing for a while.”