burtonbridgebrewery [dot] fsnet [dot] co [dot] uk Burton Bridge Brewery takes its name from the Burton Bridge over the River Trent at Burton-on-Trent. It is situated twenty yards from the end of the present bridge. Built in the late 17th Century as the Fox and Goose Inn, the old bridge finished just outside the front door. Remains of the first two arches are still there but buried under the road.
Whilst developing the liquor system at Ind Coope’s Romford brewery in 1979, Engineering Manager Geoff Mumford and Technical Manager, Bruce Wilkinson discovered a mutual interest in starting their own brewery. Information was shared and many small breweries visited. Both men quickly realised that a pub connected to a brewery could reap the benefits of beer in the very best condition, delivery and cask costs would be minimised. But neither had pub experience and were anxious that the tail (pub) should not wag the dog (brewery). The Midlands was decided as the location for such a venture as there were properties within their budget and their parents were within visiting range.
The Fox and Goose was advertised in the Morning Advertiser and a visit was made during the May bank holiday in 1981). The pub had been closed for some two years and had been sold (de-licensed) to a solicitor. There were no services (gas, electricity, water) and the building needed much maintenance to get it habitable, let alone trading as a brewery pub. The old pub had been on Bridge Street and the back building had been used for stabling in the days of the pub being a coaching station and since those days as a store for defunct furniture.
After much thought and talk it was decided to make an offer for the building subject to planning permission being granted to be able to brew on site. In October 1981), notice to leave was given to Ind Coope at Romford and various items of equipment were purchased from diverse sources. Brewing finally started on 25 May 1982 after 6 months of long, hard work with the help of 2 Y-O-P’s.
It was then fully appreciated that many so-called free houses in the area were actually tied to other brewers. As they were not allowed to sell their beer in any pubs in Burton, work was started on a temporary bar at the front of the building. The seating was located in a quarry in North Derbyshire, where a stonemason had removed the pews from the methodist chapel in which Harold Wilson’s parents had been married. The beer engines were found in the back of a local garage!
The bar was opened on 1 August 1982 and with a barmaid employed at lunchtimes and early evenings only, Geoff and Bruce worked alternate nights and brewed and delivered during the day!
Brewery Picture:
