McMullen & Sons Ltd Round Tray

McMullen and Sons Ltd tin tray dating from the 1970s.

McMullen's Foundation

The firm was founded in Back Street, now Railway Street, Hertford by Peter McMullen in 1827, when he started brewing at the back of his father's house.
He moved the business to Mill Bridge, Hertford, and opened a new King William IV brewhouse in 1832.
In 1833 Peter began brewing McMullen's AK, a beer which is still produced today.
In 1860 he passed the business to his sons, Alexander Henry, and Osmond Henry, who began trading as P.McMullen & Sons.
The Company expanded rapidly during the latter half of the 19th century mainly through the acquisition of a number of local breweries and public houses.
The Cannon Brewery in Ware was purchased from Thomas Cox in 1864, and the Star Brewery of William Wickham, also in Ware, was purchased in 1874.

The Hertford Brewery

The Cannon Brewery had became McMullen's main site by 1871 until brewing ceased in 1891, when an impressive new Hertford Brewery was built on Hartham Lane.
In 1897 the Company was registered as McMullen & Sons Ltd with 90 public houses.
Osmond Henry became Chairman of the new Company whilst Alexander Henry retired.
In 1898 McMullen's merged with G.H.Lee of Waltham Abbey, with its Eagle Brewery and 6 public houses. The Eagle Brewery ceased operating in 1906.
By 1902 McMullen's was the second largest brewery in Hertfordshire owning 131 public houses.
Osmond Henry died in 1914 and his son Lieutenant Colonel Osmond Robert became Chairman.
A futher 20 public houses were added in 1920 when the Company acquired local Hertford competitor, William Baker & Sons with its Hope Brewery.

Post-War Trading

From 1946 to 1980 Osmond Henry's grandson, Peter, ran the brewery.
Trading during this period was difficult and Peter fought hard to keep the business afloat. His father's death duties were considerable, but by 1954 these were paid off through Peter's determination, and the Company survived.
A new modern brewhouse was built on the same site in 1984 when John McMullen was in control.
In 2002 a split in the future direction of the Company resulted in the sale of several non-brewing property investments, releasing cash to appease majority shareholders.
A new, smaller Whole Hop Brewery was built in 2006 which was more compact than the 1984-built plant.
All the spare land was sold to Sainsburys in 2007.
'Macs' as it is better known, is still brewing independently under the control of the 6th generation of the McMullen family with an estate totalling 130 public houses.