Meet the founders

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Max Kelly and Maksim Akulinin are Lost In Town. Having been friends for seven years and spent far too much time in the pub together, in 2023 they joined forces and made their move into the drinks market with an ambition to make the kind of beers they wanted to drink. They were passionate, determined and dedicated to their cause, and they both possess a very particular set of skills that make them perfect business partners.

Max is a specialist in hospitality. Born and raised in Chelsea, he has worked in the industry for over 12 years, starting at the bottom as a dishwasher and working his way up into management. Having picked up experience in delis, bars and restaurants all over the capital – including stints at Kurobuta, Grainger & Co, and the Caravan group – he understands what customers want and more importantly how to deliver it.

Maksim’s background is as an entrepreneur. Having moved to the UK from Russia at the age of 12, he studied in London and had planned to go into hotel construction, but decided to work in luxury food sales, specialising in sourcing high-end produce for the food service sector. Having developed a global network of diverse contacts, he became interested in the craft beer market and after teaming up with Max they created Lost In Town Brewery.

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“The name came from a random conversation with our friends,” says Maksim. “One of them messaged us saying he had gone out, was having a brilliant time, and that he was lost in town. And that just clicked for us. We think the best nights’ out are when you are having fun and you don’t know where you are going or where you will end up. We love it and we hope other people do too.”