A brewery, struggling after Brexit wiped out almost all of its exports, says it is confident a new buyer for the firm will be found.

The Old Dairy Brewery in Tenterden recently filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators. But it says it is continuing to trade as normal and a beer festival scheduled for later this month will go ahead as planned.

It comes after it revealed a huge drop in export sales due to the additional red tape caused by our departure from the European Union.

Ironically, it had been appointed an 'export champion' by the Department for International Trade for the second year running earlier this year.

However, extra paperwork, customs checks and transport regulations has seen many of its international customers drop due to the additional costs involved.

Clarifying its current situation, the Old Dairy Brewery said in a statement: "Currently we are not in administration but have filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators whilst we seek a buyer for the company; as such we are trading as usual.

"We have every confidence that a buyer will be found as the business is now profitable and trading well. We confirm that we intend for Hopfest to go ahead as planned and the taproom remains open."

The Hopfest beer festival is due to take place between October 21-23. Celebrating Oktoberfest, it will showcase a range of Kent beers as well as food and live music.

Adds the statement: "This is a difficult time for all of the staff given that the future is not as fixed as it was and that there is an amount of uncertainty for us all whilst we go through this process. We ask that you respect this in any interactions you have with our staff and not press them for details."

It is proposing to appoint Crowe UK in Tunbridge Wells to act as administrators.

Administrators are called in when a company experiences cashflow problems that threaten its future.

They are appointed by the firm's management to create a 'breathing space' for the company during which time action cannot be taken over monies owed. A process of financial restructuring then takes place with a view to being able to rescue the company from collapse. This is often through its sale.

The Old Dairy Brewery started life in 2009 in a converted dairy in Rolvenden. In 2015, as popularity increased, it moved to a larger brewery in Tenterden, close to the railway station.