Everard’s Brewery Ltd Round Alloy

Everard's Brewery Ltd alloy tray dating from the 1950s.

Early Everard's Brewing History - The Southgate Brewery - Leicester

The Company was founded in 1849 when Thomas Hull and William Everard leased William Bates' brewery in Southgate Street, Leicester.
They also leased Messrs Wilmot & Company brewing business on Southgate Street, from which the partnership traded as Hull & Everard that same year.
In 1855, Thomas and William Everard were listed as brewers, hop merchants and maltsters in Southgate Street, later named Castle Street. The firm brewed ale and porter beers.
Thomas died in 1861 leaving William Everard to run the business on his own.
William purchased the firm's first public houses in Leicestershire, in 1862.
In 1871 William Everard & Company was listed as brewing at the Southgate Brewery.
In the same year, William Everard built a new brewery on the same site, which started production in 1875.
By 1877, the business was trading as Everard, Son & Weldon, supplying about 100 public houses, although few were owned outright.
In 1881, the firm was brewing 'Family Bitter Beer', 'East India Pale', 'Mild', 'Strong', and 'Diamond Ales', as well as 'Porter', 'Stout', and 'Imperial Stout'.

The Bridge Brewery & The Trent Brewery - Burton-on-Trent

William Everard died in 1892, when the business owned only 7 public houses. William's son, Thomas, took over running the business.
Knowing that the firm was losing business to the increasingly popular Burton beers, Everards leased the Bridge Brewery of Henry Boddington & Co. in 1893. The Bridge Brewery had been converted from a warehouse to a brewery in 1865.
Everards vacated the Bridge Brewery in 1898, as it proved too small for the firm's output.
In the same year Everards leased the Trent Brewery in Anglesey Road, Burton-on-Trent, from the Trent Brewery Co. which was in liquidation.
In 1899, the partnership of Everard and Weldon was dissolved, and the Company continued to trade as W.Everard & Co.
The continuing popularity of Burton ales led to the outright purchase of the Trent Brewery in 1903, the freehold land was later purchased in 1920.
The Company was registered as W.Everard & Co. Ltd in 1925, when Sir Lindsay Everard, of the 3rd generation, became its Chairman.
The Southgate Brewery in Leicester, was closed in 1932, and was converted into a packing and distribution centre.
All brewing was concentrated at the Trent Brewery.

Everards Brewery Ltd

In 1936 the business became a public limited company trading as Everards Brewery Ltd
By 1949 the Everards tied estate totalled 150 public houses.
Captain PAWB Everard, Tony, became Chairman after the death of his father, Lindsay Everard, in the same year.
In 1972, the Company introduced its famous Tiger Bitter, and the Trent Brewery was renamed the Tiger Brewery around the same time.
In the early 1970s, the Company increased its investment in keg and bottled beers.
At the same time, the Campaign for Real Ale, CAMRA, was formed, and whilst in its early days it was relatively disparaging of Evererds' beers, it eventually became a great supporter.
In 1975 'Old Original', a fruity stronger ale, was first brewed.
Oliver Steel, a friend of Tony Everard, became Company Chairman in 1978.
In 1979 there was a major investment for the future, with the purchase of a greenfield site at Castle Acres.
In 1984 the Tiger Brewery, ceased its mainstream production, and the name was changed to the Heritage Brewery Ltd (Burton).
Between 1983 and 1986 Everards also brewed 'Penguin Ale' at the Falkland Islandss (Everards) Brewery.

The Castle Acres Brewery

In preparation for the opening of the Castle Acres site, for almost two years its beers were both contract brewed by Whitbread & Co. Ltd, and at its own Heritage Brewery. The Castle Acres Brewery in Narborough, became fully operational in 1985, its 4th permanent brewing site. The new brewery was opened by Nigel Lawson, then Chanceller of the Exchequer.
Everything was positive for the Company as profits continued to increase and, by the end of 1987, it owned 150 public houses, and was awarded a Gold Medal at the Brewing Industry Awards in 1990.
In 1988 Richard Everard became the 5th generation Chairman.
Futher brewing awards were won consistently throughout the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.
In 2007 Everards were acclaimed as 'Pub Company of the Year', which it also achieved in 2008, 2010, 2013, 2017, and 2024.
Brewing ceased at the Castle Acres Brewery in 2017, and the brewery was demolished shortly afterwards.
Everard's ales were contract brewed again by various breweries for four years.
In 2019 the new state-of-the-art Castle Meadows Brewery at Fosse Park, near Leicester was introduced to the public for the first time. The brewery, and visitor complex, became fully operational in 2022, the Company's 5th permanent brewing site, more than any other in British brewing history.
In the same year, Julian Everard became the firm's 6th generation Chairman.
The Company now owns 165 tenanted properties.