{{Short description|Brewer and hotel owner based in Sunderland, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox company | name = Vaux Brewery | logo = Vbreweries.jpg | type = Public | caption = | fate = Acquired | successor = Whitbread, Vaux Brewery | foundation = 1806 | defunct = 2000 | location = Sunderland, UK | industry = Brewing | key_people = Sir Paul Nicholson (chairman)<br>Frank Nicholson (CEO) | products = | num_employees = | parent = | subsid = }} '''Vaux Brewery''' was a major brewer and hotel owner based in Sunderland, England. The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange. It was taken over by Whitbread in 2000. [[File:1959 Commer QX Unipower (398 JBB) tipper lorry, 2012 HCVS Tyne-Tees Run cropped.jpg|250px|right|thumb| Commer delivery truck displaying Vaux livery]]
==History== The company was founded in 1806 by Cuthbert Vaux (1779–1850),<ref>[http://www.ancestry.co.uk/genealogy/records/cuthbert-vaux_48081604 Cuthbert Vaux]</ref> producing several popular brands including Vaux's Stout, Maxim, Double Maxim, and Sunderland Best Bitter. For nearly 200 years, it was a major employer in the city.<ref>[http://wearsideonline.com/vaux_brewery.html Vaux Brewery at Wearside Online]</ref>
In 1972, the company bought the Sheffield-based Wards Brewing Company, which it retained as a separate subsidiary.<ref name=close>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/the_company_file/383766.stm Vaux Breweries close] BBC News, 2 July 1999</ref> In 1981, it attempted to establish a foothold in the U.S. with the purchase of the New York-based family-owned Fred Koch Brewery.<ref>"[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7LVAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yKUMAAAAIBAJ&dq=fred%20koch%20brewery&pg=1792%2C2203854 Vaux buying U.S. brewery]," The Glasgow Herald - Jun 11, 1981.</ref>
By the 1990s, the Vaux Group had expanded into hotels. Despite the brewing business being profitable and an offer to buy it having been received from management, in March 1999 the Board accepted the advice of the Corporate Financier, BT Alex. Brown, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank, and decided to close both breweries.<ref name=close/> This caused Chairman Sir Paul Nicholson, who disagreed with the closure decision, to resign.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/06_june/09/inside_out_vaux.shtml Chairman lifts lid on deal which closed Vaux] BBC News, 9 June 2003</ref> The company changed its name to Swallow Group plc, and in July sold its tenanted pub estate to a client of the corporate financier, concentrating on Swallow Hotels business and incorporating the former Vaux-managed pub estate under the ''Swallow Inns & Restaurants'' brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2016-12-13/the-vaux-brewery-a-history|title=The Sunderland Vaux Brewery: A history|publisher=ITV|date=13 December 2016|access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref>
The company was taken over by Whitbread in 2000, following which most of the hotels were rebranded as Marriott and the larger pubs were brought under other national brands, such as Brewers Fayre.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/whitbread-set-to-offer-pound550m-for-swallows-hotel-chain-740756.html Whitbread set to offer £550m for Swallow Hotels chain] The Independent, 22 November 1999</ref> Later, 10 hotels unsuitable for Marriott conversions were sold off, forming the nucleus of a smaller Swallow Hotels chain,<ref>[http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2007/08/23/315569/swallow-group-a-year-after-its-collapse-into-insolvency.html Swallow Group a year after collapse into insolvency] Caterer search, 23 August 2007</ref> which collapsed in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-08-23 |title=Swallow Group – a year after its collapse... |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/hotel/swallow-group-a-year-after-its-collapse-into-insolvency |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=The Caterer |language=en}}</ref>
In 2000, two former Vaux directors and the former head brewer formed what is now called the Maxim Brewery, buying some of the beer brands and recipes. They resurrected the former ''Samson'' and ''Double Maxim'' lines.<ref>[http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/3810637.Delight_as_brewers_turn_back_the_clock/ Delight as brewers turn back the clock] Northern Echo, 1 November 2008</ref>
The Sunderland brewery was vacated and the buildings were demolished for redevelopment.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/wear/content/articles/2008/10/08/vaux_timeline_feature.shtml Vaux P ... ast and present] BBC Wear, 9 October 2008</ref> In November 2014 a partnership between Carillion and Sunderland City Council was formed to redevelop the site.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/19-years-and-counting-the-saga-of-sunderland-s-vaux-brewery-site-1-8959872|title=19 years and counting: The saga of Sunderland's Vaux Brewery site|date=16 January 2018|publisher=Sunderland Echo|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> However, Carillion collapsed into liquidation in January 2018. After a six-month delay, redevelopment resumed in July 2018, with Tolent as the main contractor.<ref name="Prior-19Jul2018">{{cite news |last1=Prior |first1=Grant |title=Tolent restarts work at Vaux site stalled by Carillion collapse |url=http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2018/07/19/tolent-restarts-work-at-vaux-site-stalled-by-carillion-collapse/ |access-date=19 July 2018 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=19 July 2018}}</ref> Tolent subsequently also went into liquidation in early 2023, and completion of the contract passed to Wates Group.<ref name="Morby-29Aug2023">{{cite news |last1=Morby |first1=Aaron |title=Wates to finish Tolent’s Vaux job in Sunderland |url=https://www.constructionenquirer.com/2023/08/29/wates-to-finish-tolents-vaux-job-in-sunderland/ |access-date=29 August 2023 |work=Construction Enquirer |date=29 August 2023}}</ref>
In April 2019 a Sunderland-based company announced their intention to resurrect the Vaux brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/legendary-vaux-brewing-name-set-for-sunderland-return-1-9590081 |title=Legendary Vaux brewing name set for Sunderland return |date=12 February 2019|publisher=Sunderland Echo|access-date=20 November 2020}}</ref> In March 2020 the new Vaux Brewery announced plans to open a new brewery and bar in the centre of Sunderland.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Reborn Vaux Brewery is set to open its own Sunderland brewery and adjoining bar|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/people/reborn-vaux-brewery-set-open-its-own-sunderland-brewery-and-bar-2449746|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.sunderlandecho.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Vaux Brewery {{!}} Sunderland|url=https://www.vaux.beer/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=Vaux Brewery|language=en}}</ref>
==Former brands== Former beer brands of Vaux include: {{div col}} * Vaux Regal, a strong 'scotch' type ale. * Gold Tankard * Silver Tankard * ''Samson'' bitter * ''Double Maxim'' * Single Maxim * Bottled Red Label Ale (sweet stout) & Golden Ale (high alcohol content) * Sunderland Draught Bitter * Lorimer's Best Scotch * Norseman Lager * Frisk Lager * Scorpion Lager * ''How's Your Father'', a light, golden, cask conditioned ale sold in summer. * ''Moonlight Mouse'', an autumn cask conditioned ale * ''Waggledance'', a cask conditioned honey ale, sold to Youngs when Vaux ceased brewing (now brewed by Eagle Brewery in Bedford by Marstons) * ''Lambton's'', an ale named after the Lambton family. * Fighting Hares (Bottled Ale) * Lorimer & Clark's 80/- A strong real ale. {{div col end}}
==See also== *Ernest Vaux
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:1806 establishments in England Category:Defunct breweries of the United Kingdom Category:History of Tyne and Wear Category:Companies based in the City of Sunderland Category:Breweries in England