Mansfield Brewery

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Use British English|date=May 2023}} [[File:Mansfield Brewery.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Former offices of Mansfield Brewery]] '''Mansfield Brewery''' was a brewery and public house operating company established in 1855, that was based in the North Nottinghamshire market town of Mansfield, England. The main beer brewed was '''Mansfield Bitter''', along with other popular brands including Riding Bitter, Marston Old Baily, and Marksman Lager.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.chad.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/beverages-bitter-and-business-12-retro-photos-from-mansfield-brewery-through-the-years-4373376 |title=Mansfield and Ashfield Chad|date=16 October 2023|access-date=15 November 2025}}</ref>

The brewery also boasted a large array of seasonal beers, including the "Deakins" range.<ref name="History of">[https://www.belvoir.co.uk/mansfield-estate-agents/articles/history-of-the-mansfield-brewery-mansfield-buildings/#:~:text=When%20the%20Mansfield%20Brewery%20was,of%20their%20traditional%20trading%20area A History Of The Mansfield Brewery] – Mansfield Buildings, Belvoir Estate Agents, 6 February 2019, retrieved 15 November 2025</ref>

After being taken over by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries in 1999, the brewing of the branded beers moved to Wolverhampton in 2002, where it continues today under the control of Marston's. The brewery buildings were demolished in 2008 and the site redeveloped for residential use in 2019–21.<ref name="History of"/>

==History== In 1855, brewer John Watson of Sheffield formed a partnership with farmer Samuel Hage of Whitewater, Ollerton, and investor William Edward Baily, of Mansfield. The partners bought land at Littleworth to build a brewery. However, in 1856 Watson sold his shares to the other two partners.<ref name=BrIG>{{cite book|title=The Brewing Industry: A Guide to Historical Records|author1=Lesley Richmond |author2=Alison Turton }}</ref> To support their business, the partners established a malting facility in 1863.<ref name=BrIG/>

In 1873 Addison Titley bought into the business, followed in 1885 by William Jackson Chadburn, Baily's brother-in-law, who became the dominant owning partner.<ref name=BrIG/> By 1901, the firm leased 72 licensed premises, from public houses to hotels, as well as numerous off licences, resulting in the rebuilding of the main brewery in 1907.<ref name=BrIG/>

After W.J. Chadburn's death in 1922, from February 1925 the business became the private limited liability company ''The Mansfield Brewery Company Ltd.'' After acquiring the Chesterfield Brewery in 1934, in 1935 the company became publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange.<ref name=BrIG/>

After World War II, the company acquired Hornby's soft drink distributors in 1955, TW Beach in 1980, and North Country Breweries (formerly Hull Brewery) of Humberside for £42m in 1985 ({{Inflation|UK|42000000|1985|r=-4|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}, including 212 tied houses. By 1987, the company was operating a total of 420 licensed premises,<ref name=BrIG/> and was one of the area's largest employers.

thumb|Part of the demolition site showing the chimney In 1999 the company was taken over by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries, which quickly moved production to the Park Brewery in Wolverhampton.<ref>[http://www.marstons.co.uk/about/our_history.asp ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913014320/http://www.marstons.co.uk/about/our_history.asp |date=13 September 2009 }}</ref> This affected the distinct flavour of the Mansfield beers which was due to the using local hard water. Brewing at Mansfield, which had been wound down after the takeover, resulted in the closure of the brewery in 2002.<ref name="History of"/>

The site was cleared by demolition contractors the Cuddy Group in late 2008,<ref name="Cuddy">{{cite web|url=http://www.cuddy-group.com/news/eyesore-brewery-bites-the-dust/ |title=Eyesore Brewery Bites the Dust |publisher=Cuddy Group |date=12 May 2011 |accessdate=23 August 2015}}</ref> with many local residents feeling that the destruction of the brewery's brick chimney by twelve explosive charges brought to an end part of the town's cultural heritage, and officially marked the end of brewing in Mansfield.<ref name="History of"/>

There were few feelings of nostalgia from Councillor Kate Allsop who stated: "I have to say I was pleased to see the chimney finally come down. It’s been an eyesore for such a long time".<ref name="Cuddy"/>

The land on which the brewery once stood was immediately put up for sale. In 2008, Mansfield District Council released blueprints, showing plans to develop the area in a mixed-use scheme, including offices, leisure facilities and residential developments.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.chad.co.uk/news/Council-plans-for-Mansfield-Brewery.3861692.jp |title=Council plans for eyesore Mansfield Brewery site backed - Mansfield and Ashfield Chad |publisher=Chad.co.uk |date=10 March 2008 |accessdate=23 August 2015}}</ref> The site was temporarily used during 2015 as a trailer park, before Mansfield planning department refused further consent in October 2015.<ref>Trailer scheme is trashed after objection letters. ''Chad'', 30 September 2015, p. 27. Accessed 30 January 2022</ref>

The brownfield site was undeveloped and being marketed for commercial use,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eddisons.com/property-search/commercial-and-land/ |title=Commercial property and land search |publisher=Eddisons |date= |accessdate=23 August 2015}}</ref> until work started in 2019 to create a residential development, which was completed by 2021.<ref name="ChadFeb2019">[https://www.chad.co.uk/news/people/take-a-look-as-work-starts-at-mansfield-brewery-s-former-site-1-9590392 Take a look as work starts at Mansfield Brewery's former site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604014731/https://www.chad.co.uk/news/people/take-a-look-as-work-starts-at-mansfield-brewery-s-former-site-1-9590392 |date=4 June 2019 }} ''Chad'', 12 February 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.chad.co.uk/lifestyle/homes-and-gardens/residents-move-into-new-homes-at-former-mansfield-brewery-site-3155730 Residents move into new homes at former Mansfield brewery site] ''Chad'', 5 March 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2022</ref>

==Advertising== [[File:But he's never had a pint of Mansfield.JPG|thumb|1980s ad for Mansfield Bitter featuring Ronald Reagan]] thumb|"Not much matches Mansfield" ad

In the 1980s, Mansfield Bitter was advertised with a photograph of then US President Ronald Reagan and the tagline: "He might be president of the most powerful nation on earth... but he's never had a pint of Mansfield."<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 1982 |title=Mug of Mansfield, President Regan? |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19831013&id=sEUxAAAAIBAJ&pg=5173,2713602 |access-date=22 February 2014}}{{Dead link|date=January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Richard |title=Former US president Ronald Reagan honoured with statue in London |url=http://www.colstons.bristol.sch.uk/09-news/RoaldReagan.html |access-date=22 February 2014 |website=OLD COLSTONIAN NEWS |publisher=Colston's School}}</ref> "Not much matches Mansfield" was also used and became the title for a play set in the town, written by Kevin Fegan for the Mansfield Arts Festival.<ref>''Not Much Matches Mansfield''. More from the Mayor. ''Chad'', 18 July 2012, p. 9. Accessed 20 January 2022</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://soundcloud.com/watko/sets/not-much-matches-mansfield |title=Not Much Matches Mansfield Audio |last=Watkins |first=Ian |type=Radio Play |publisher=SoundCloud |access-date=21 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April–July 2012 |title=''Not Much Matches Mansfield'' |url=https://www.mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre/Palace_News_List.asp?go=yes&mode=detail&news_id=80 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830115931/https://www.mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre/Palace_News_List.asp?go=yes&mode=detail&news_id=80 |archive-date=30 August 2012 |access-date=20 January 2022 |website=Mansfield.gov}}</ref> A similar 1989 advert contained the wording "He might be the life and soul of the Party...But he's never had a pint of Mansfield." featured Mikhail Gorbachev, then president of the Soviet Union.<ref>''A walk down memory lane in photos'' ''Chad'', 27 July 2016, p. 46</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140820121849/http://www.mansfield.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1891 Brewery Timeline] *[http://www.marstonsbeercompany.co.uk/our_brands/mansfield/mansfield.asp Mansfield Bitter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107131444/http://www.marstonsbeercompany.co.uk/our_brands/mansfield/mansfield.asp |date=7 January 2013 }} @ Marstons, the current brewer *[http://www.mansfieldbeer.co.uk/ Mansfield Beer] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130506015243/http://www.mansfieldbrewerygate.co.uk/ Mansfield Brewery gate - expired development project] *[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-15196491 Mansfield may see brewery return BBC Nottinghamshire], October 2011

Category:Companies disestablished in 1999 Category:Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange Category:Breweries in England Category:British companies established in 1855 Category:Food and drink companies established in 1855 Category:1855 establishments in England Category:Buildings and structures in Mansfield Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Nottinghamshire Category:Breweries in Nottinghamshire