Greene King & Sons Ltd Square Tin

Greene King & Sons Ltd tin tray dating from 1963. Greene's Brewery was founded in Bury St. Edmunds by Benjamin Greene in 1799. In 1806 Benjamin Greene partnered with William Buck to acquire Wright's Brewery in Westgate Street and renamed it the Westgate Brewery. In 1836 Edward Greene took over the business, and, trading as Greene & Son, the Company experienced a period of sustained growth. In 1868 Frederick William King acquired the Maulkin's Maltings in Bury St. Edmunds and renamed it the St. Edmund's Brewery. In 1887 Greene King & Sons Ltd was registered to acquire E.Greene & Son Westgate Brewery and F.W.King & Son St. Edmund's Brewery. The St. Edmund's Brewery ceased brewing shortly afterwards. Before WWII the Company brewed and distributed its ales locally from its Westgate Brewery in Bury St. Edmunds and from Rayment & Co. Ltd's Pelham Brewery, based in Furneux Pelham, which it had acquired in 1931. After WWII a number of breweries were acquired throughout Britain, including Simpson's Brewery Ltd in 1954, closed in 1965, Wells & Winch Ltd in 1961, closed in 1997, Morland & Co. plc in 1999 closed that year, the pub estate of Morrell's Brewery Ltd in 2002, T.D.Ridley & Sons Ltd in 2005, closed that year, and Hardy & Hansons Ltd in 2006, which was also closed in the same year. The Pelham Brewery was eventually closed in 1987. The only brewery to have survived, thus far, is the Belhaven Brewery Co Ltd, which was purchased in 2006 and is still brewing in Dunbar. As a result of these takeovers and closures Greene King considerably increased its portfolio of beers with some famous brand names including Old Speckled Hen, previously brewed by Morlands, Ruddles County and Best Bitter, previously brewed by Ruddles, Old Bob, previously brewed by Ridleys, and Olde Trip previously brewed by Hardy & Hansons. Sadly none of these great ales taste anything like the original recipes. The Greene King Group is now structured into three divisions, the traditional brewing activities, named 'Brewing & Brands', a retail business including brands such as Hungry Horse and Loch Fyne, named the 'Pub Company', and the 'Pub Partner' business. By the 2010s the Company was the UK's largest retailer and brewer with about 3000 pubs, hotels and restaurants, earning them the nickname of 'Greedy King' in some parts of the media. In 2019 the Company was acquired by CK Asset Holdings, which became the parent company, and is owned by a wealthy Hong Kong property magnate. The manufacturer's makers mark states - Hancock Corfield & Waller Ltd Mitcham London.