Adnams & Co. Ltd Square Tin

Adnams & Co. Ltd tin tray dating from 1993.

The Origins of the Sole Bay Brewery

The earliest evidence of brewing on the same site in Southwold where Adnams & Co. Ltd now operates, was in 1345.
Johanna de Corby was charged by the manorial court for serving short measures.
The Swan Hotel was purchased by Thomas Bokenham in 1818, who, due his debts, sold the attached brewhouse to local maltster, William Crisp.
William Crisp rebuilt and ran the brewery until his death in 1844.
The Sole Bay Brewery, with its inn, was purchased from the retiring owners, by George and Ernest Michael Adnams, from William Crisp, in 1872.
In 1880 Adnams & Co. launched its 'Tally Ho' strong beer, which is still brewed at the Sole Bay Brewery today.
The business was registered as Adnams & Co. Ltd. in 1890.
In 1902 Jack and Pierse Loftus acquired a stake in the brewery. Pierse bought strategic vision, technical expertise, and sound financial principles to the business, creating the platform for Adnams future success.

Sustainability, the Essence of Adnams

Over the years Adnams has won numerous brewing awards, including the 'Star of Excellence' in 1953, and more recently 'Adnams Extra' won CAMRA's 'Champion Beer of the Year', in 1991 and 1993.
Until 1953, and from 1970 to 2006, casks of Adnams ale were delivered to its six public houses in Southwold by the firm's dray horses.
The Sole Bay Brewery was enlarged and modernised in 1970.
In 1987 the Company opened its first store behind the Crown Inn, and now owns stores throughout East Anglia.
A new Distribution Centre was commissioned in 2004, and has the UK's largest living roof known as the Sky Garden.
The Company was awarded a Queen's Award for Enterprise for sustainability, in 2005.
In 2006 Simon Loftus retired as Chairman leaving Jonathan Adnams to take over his role.
In 2010 the Copper House Distillery opened, and within months the firm's spirits were winning international awards.
The Company now owns 102 public houses, mainly throughout Sufflok, Norfolk, and Essex, and is still brewing independently as Adnams plc, one of the UK's leaders in sustainablity practices.

Remarkably this is the oldest tray I have from this brewery and I am still searching for a pre-1970 tray from Adnams