Znojmo bought the area of the former Hostan brewery

Znojmo - Znojmo city council approved today the purchase of the former Hostan brewery site from the Heineken group. The company sold the buildings for 26 million crowns, even though an expert valued it at a higher price. However, they included several conditions in the contract. For the first five years, only beer from the Heineken group can be sold on the premises, and the group ensured a double-term clause for potential beer production. The future use of the space in the protected city heritage reservation will be decided by a study, said Mayor Petr Nezveda to ČTK today.
    The current brewery was built by the city in the early 18th century next to the castle, and production started in 1720. It has been part of the Heineken group since 2003. There has been speculation about reducing or ending production in Znojmo for some time. Heineken moved the production of bottled Hostan beer to Starobrno five years ago and discontinued the production of barrel beer in Znojmo last year.
    "One of Heineken's conditions is that if anyone approaches the city with an offer for beer production in the next ten years, the brewery has the right of first refusal to express their opinion. If they accept the conditions, we will conclude an agreement with Heineken; if not, we are free to proceed," said Nezveda. The city, on the other hand, insisted on a condition in the contract that it can pay the 26 million CZK for the site only until the end of October.
    The purchase of the brewery was crucial for the city hall. If a private company had acquired it, the city would have very limited options to ensure public access to the castle and the rare rotunda of St. Catherine.
    The future use of the site will emerge according to Nezveda from a study commissioned by the city alongside Heineken. Besides a representative path to the rotunda, it could include restaurants or, for example, museums of beer production or traditional Znojmo pickles.