According to his son, developer, and brewery founder Alasdair Cassels, who died on Saturday, had been diagnosed with prostate cancer five years ago, but didn't want anyone to know. The 71-year-old was well known as the owner and developer of The Tannery boutique mall and as the founder of Cassels Brewing Company.
“Alasdair’s family are devastated by his death,” his partner of 47 years, Bridget Taylor, said. “He gave us so much in his life, so much of himself.”
The ambitious entrepreneur died surrounded by his partner, son Zak and four daughters – Madeleine, Pippi, Zoe and Mia – about 3.30am on Saturday 16 April.
Brother Ian Cassels said Alasdair was a “local hero” for his work at The Tannery and Cassels Brewery.
“It’s wonderful how his life turned out. He put his heart and soul into those two,” he said. “He’s left behind a lovely and talented family. His children and grandchildren are unbelievably talented.”
He had plans to double production capacity for Cassels Brewing, open a brewery tour, and for his brand to become associated with the Garden City. The brewery had come a long way since the February 2011 earthquake, when the newly opened premises ended up in ruins.
The business relocated to the central city for a few years, opening CBD Bar and Pizzeria on Madras St until the building was bought by the Crown to make way for the city's new stadium in 2016. Cassels invested significantly to rebuild his original space, The Tannery in Woolston, which he initially bought in 1994, and opened a boutique shopping mall.
In 2008, he brought in son Zak and son-in-law Joe Shanks to turn his beer-making hobby into a full-time business venture, Cassels Brewing.
