Felinfoel Brewery Co. Ltd Round Tin

Felinfoel Brewery Co. Ltd tin tray dating from the 1950s.

Foundation of the Brewing Business in Felinfoel

The business was founded around 1840 by David John at the King's Head home brew house, in his home village of Felinfoel. David John was the owner of a an iron and tinplate works near Llanelli.
In 1843, the name was changed from the King's Head to the Union Inn, where David John continued to brew his popular beers.
A new imposing stone brewery, astride the River Lledi, was built opposite the Union Inn in the grounds of his house, Pantglas, in 1878.
The brewery soon employed about 50 people.

20th Century Trading & Canned Beer

During the 1900s the firm gradually built up trade throughout Carmathen, Cardigan, and Pembroke, buying pubs as they became available.
When David retired from his business, his sons David and Martin, took over the running of the brewery.
In addition to their successful beers, David and Martin produced mineral waters under the Trebuan Spring label.
The Company was registered as the Felinfoel Brewery Co. Ltd in 1906.
The family also had mining interests, and in 1908, these almost brought brewing to an end. Sinking a well at the brewery, workmen struck a seam of coal. Fortunately the John family decided not to exploit this opportunity and to continue brewing.
Another family joined the Company when David John's daughter, Mary Anne, married John Lewis.
John was a troubled soul and a heavy gambler. Fortunately Mary Anne controlled his shares.
In the 1920s John shot himself alone in the brewery office. Undaunted, Mary Anne carried on with the business. A formidable woman, she carried a big stick with which she would hit underperformers! The stick still hangs in the brewery today.
Times were tough at the brewery, however the Company's close connection with the tinplate industry, enabled its turnaround.
Although the industry, and customers alike, were sceptical about drinking beer from cans, Felinfoel was the first brewery in Britain to successfully introduce canned beer in 1935. The feat was seen as something the Americans had failed to achieve, and one of which all at Felinfoel's brewery were extremely proud.
Each employee at both the brewery, and the tinplate works, was given a can to mark the occasion.

Felinfoel Brewery Survives

In 1965 a bitter disagreement between the John and Lewis families came to a head when larger neighbours Buckley's, made a bid for Felinfoel's brewery.
The John family were very close to securing a deal with Buckley's but Lady Davies refused to sell her small shareholding, and instead gave her shares to the Lewis family.
Each year Buckley's would attempt to buy out Felinfoel and each year the Lewis family would simply tear up the offer.
More postively, the Felinfoel Brewery Co. Ltd was awarded the prestigious 'Beer Can of the Year' in 1969, which was presented by the Prince Charles the Prince of Wales.
Under the Chairmanship of John Lewis, the Company won International Cups for its 'Double Dragon Bitter' in 1976.
Upgrading of the old brewery continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s and the Company returned to private ownership in 1982.
The brewery, with 74 public houses, is still operating independently, brewing its award winning ales in Felinfoel, under the leadership of Jeremy Lewis.

The manufacturer's mark states - Hancock Corfield & Waller Ltd Mitcham London