Staff at BrewDog in Queens Street, Norwich, said they weren’t even given the chance to ask questions during the meeting because they had been put on mute.

The bar chain, which specialised in craft beers and burgers, made the brutal call after it collapsed into administration earlier this week.

Despite some sites struggling, workers at the Norwich branch thought their jobs would be safe as they had been led to believe it was performing well financially.

There are 49 BrewDog sites across the UK with 38 – including the Norwich site – closing despite the brand being bought in a rescue deal by a US firm.

‘IT IS IMMORAL’

Will Tomsett, 28, who was assistant manager at the Norwich branch said: “I had been led to believe that everything would be fine and there would be no reason to close the Norwich bar.

“Then within five minutes they said we were closing.

“I was stunned and I didn’t really know what had happened it took a whole day to sink in.

“I had just started to feel good about having the responsibility of the bar.

“It is immoral to just fire us all on the spot. It is just crazy.

“I have two kids and a mortgage to pay, my fiancé is in work, but she earns less than I do.

“I have now got nothing coming in and the claiming system is confusing.

“I thought BrewDog looked secure. The bar in Norwich was doing ok financially.

“It has deeply affected us all.

“Another person who worked at the bar was a trainee teacher and it was her only source of income. She was left high and dry.”

Norwich staff were made redundant via a video call (Image: Jack Warren)

‘A NATIONAL DISGRACE’

The trade union Unite the Union has also expressed its shock and anger at BrewDog’s treatment of its staff.

Bryan Simpson, Unite hospitality lead organiser, said: “This has been a devastating week for BrewDog workers and their communities.

“Nearly 500 livelihoods have been wiped out while yet another corporate deal is stitched together behind closed doors. 

“The way in which senior management have conducted themselves throughout this sales process has been nothing short of a national disgrace – both the press and Tilray announced the deal before workers were told. 

“BrewDog once styled itself as Punk – progressive and proudly different. It courted customers, workers and investors on the promise it was challenging corporate excess.

“Yet it abandoned the real living wage, closed 10 bars last October, and has now overseen the collapse of a business once valued at £1 billion into a £33 million fire sale.

“BrewDog workers built this brand. They deserved respect. Instead, they were treated as disposable and we will not rest until they have legal and financial justice.”

Brewdog in Norwich has closed with immediate effect (Image: Denise Bradley)

ADMINISTRATION

BrewDog in Queen Street has permanently closed its doors, despite the Scottish craft brewer being snapped up in a rescue deal by a US firm.

Tilray Brands, which produces medicinal cannabis as well as craft beer in the US, has acquired the BrewDog brand in a £33 million deal.

It bought several BrewDog assets, including the global brand and related intellectual property, its UK brewing operation and 11 of its pub venues across the UK and Ireland.

But administrators confirmed this would therefore result in the closure of most of BrewDog’s bars, with 38 now closing and 484 workers set to lose their jobs.

BrewDog have been contacted for comment.