James Watt, chief executive and co-founder of BrewDog, told the Mail on Sunday that the initial public offering (IPO) “could be this year or some point in the future – we’re working towards it”.

He said a float would give “longer-term liquidity” to the company’s 200,000 individual shareholders, who can currently only trade shares on a single day each March.

Mr Watt said: “We’re pretty much working towards IPO for them as much as anyone else. They are the heart and soul of the business.”

He added that the company is still “very passionate about our independence” and would not consider a buy-out by a larger brewer.

“If I thought going into an IPO would change the essence of the business in any way, then it wouldn’t be part of the plan,” he said.