Ossett Brewery has sold a 50% stake in the group business to Mark Hunter, the co-owner of Leeds-based software firm BJSS.

The sale includes Ossett Brewery and 26 retail sites, including 19 pubs and restaurants, and four bars trading as The HOP.

The deal also includes the recently formed Salt Beer Factory and its Craft Asylum bars.

Hunter will be part of the company’s board but will not join the day-to-day operational management team.

Co-owner and pub company founder Jamie Lawson will continue to lead the brewery while founder Bob Lawson will remain as a non-executive chairman.

“Taking on a business partner with Mark’s experience at this time will provide funding and knowledge for the next, really exciting chapter of our growth.”

Lawson said: “Since my father founded the brewery in 1998, and I founded the pub company in 2003, we have grown beyond all recognition and merged into one group in 2016. Taking on a business partner with Mark’s experience at this time will provide funding and knowledge for the next, really exciting chapter of our growth.

“Our strategy is to take advantage of our newly developed and modernised brewery in Ossett through increased production while growing our freehold Ossett pub estate.

“Salt Beer Factory based in the UNESCO village of Saltaire will begin canning its own products in 2019 with exciting new India pale ale (IPA) and lager products launched in a keg and canned format.

“Salt also plans to open new Craft Asylum sites next year after the success of the first two sites in Leeds city centre.”