John Richdale & Co. Ltd Rectangular Black Backed Steel

John Richdale & Co. Ltd black backed steel tray dating from the 1930s.

John Richdale Brewer

In the 1870s John Richdale and Henry Tomlinson formed a partnership as common brewers.
Trading as Richdale & Tomlinson, they purchased land on Bramall Lane in Sheffield on which they built the Britannia Brewery in 1875.
In 1889 Henry Tomlinson left the partnership to set up his own Anchor Brewery on the other side of Bramall Lane.

John Richdale & Co. Ltd Post-Registration Trading

The Company was registered in 1898 as John Richdale & Co Ltd.
At the turn of the century John Richdale's estate totalled 19 public houses and off-licences, a relatively modest size.
After registration, the Company continued to purchase outlets in the City of Sheffield, and a few further afield.
After the First World War Richdale's strategy was to buy poorly trading pubs, de-licence them, and then let them to groups of people who wanted to start up workingmen's clubs. It was a good idea so long as the Company did not press for a tie to supply its beers which could not be enforced under the law as it then stood.
After the Second World War the owners of these clubs felt no loyalty to Richdales and favoured choosing their own favourite beers.
Head brewer, Mr Morris, felt that this was unfair and disrespectful and this caused clashes with many club owners. It had no postive impact on Richdale's sales.
However, the quality of 'Richdale's for Rich Ales' was recognised, when in 1938, the Company was awarded the Challenge Cup and two Championship Gold Medals at the Brewers' Exhibition.
The Britannia Brewery, with 25 tied houses, was acquired by Hammond's United Breweries Ltd in 1956.