Everards
Founded in the 19th century, this is a company with real heritage in brewing and set new standards for family companies when it migrated its brewing operations to its current site at Everards Meadows five years ago.
With a brand new purpose built brewery and impressive beer hall, the company has modernised its operation impressively, with the brewery now turning out an impressive range of beers, all of which can be consumer road tested at the beer hall before being rolled out to the wider estate of more than 175 pubs across the Midlands.
A strong focus on innovation and NPD has seen the company broaden its offer considerably, while still remaining true to its core cask product, Tiger, which has recently undergone a brand refresh.
This is a company that has reinvented itself and isn’t afraid to move away from tradition, while still paying attention to its roots and core values.
Butcombe Brewing Co
Now more than 45 years old, Bristol-based Butcombe considers itself one of the original craft breweries and continues to go from strength to strength.
With a business that spans over 120 pubs across the South of England and the Channel Islands, this is a company that does not sit still and continues to drive impressively forwards.
A premium offer across its pubs, with beers to match, recent innovation has seen the brewery go big on its no and low range with innovative brewing techniques enabling them to produce award winning products and target new marketing opportunities across the health and sport sectors.
Having been a previous winner at the Publican Awards, and with a strong range of beers alongside an excellent emphasis on high quality food, this is a brewery and pub group that is setting standards for many in the sector to follow.
Robinsons Brewery, Stockport
One of the oldest of our four finalists, Robinsons started out in the Unicorn pub in Stockport in 1838 and while it retains its local roots, it hasn’t let the grass grow under its feet.
A recent move to a brand new, impressive brewery operation on the outskirts of Stockport in Bredbury has set the business up for many more years of brewing excellence.
With around 250 pubs spread across the North West and into Wales, the company doesn’t let the size of the estate nor the distance get in the way of building a strong relationship with its pub operators, and the company continues to deliver, putting out strong results across the board.
Blending the traditional with the modern, Robinsons continues to innovate to offer interesting and exciting beers for new generations of drinkers, while not neglecting its traditional offer, continuing to brew the award-winning Old Tom alongside its Unicorn bitter.
Joules Brewery
With a heritage stretching back to the 18th century, the modern iteration of Joules was established in Market Drayton in 2010, when owner Steve Nuttall wrestled back control of the brand from former arch rivals Bass, and set about restoring a once beloved brand back to the heart of the Shropshire community.
Since then, the business has grown to encompass 40 pubs, or brewery taps, as the company likes to call them - all of which have a shared DNA while retaining an individual identity - siblings, not twins, the company says.
The love of great beer and pubs is clear to see in this business, with impressive attention to detail throughout its operations, with a consistent and clear approach to quality products, backed up by its “no quibble” guarantee that ensures no customer is ever disappointed with a sub standard pint.
With development plans underway to expand the brewery, and further brewery taps in the pipeline, this is a company that is not sitting still.
