Higsons Brewery: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Brewery in Liverpool, England}}

'''Higsons''' is a [[Liverpool]] [[brewery]] founded in [[1780]], closed in the 1990s, and reopened in [[2005]].

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{more citations needed|date=January 2017}}

'''Higsons''' was a [[brewery]] in Liverpool, England, founded in 1780 and closed by [[Whitbread]] in 1990. Higsons beer was brewed in Sheffield and Durham after closure before being discontinued. The brand has been revived in the 21st century.

== The beginning ==

Higsons Brewery was originally formed in [[1780]] at 64 Dale Street, [[Liverpool]]. The company brewed beer at this site until [[1914]], when it moved to the [[Windsor Brewery]] in Upper Parliament Street.

== Expansion through the 20's1920s ==

In [[1918]], the brewery was bought out by [[J. Sykes & Company]]. The combined company began to expand further, acquiring several [[public houses]] inon the [[Wirral Peninsula|Wirral]] area and the [[Spraggs Brewery]] in [[1919]]. In [[1923]], the company bought outthe newly merged [[Walker Cains]]' Brewery in Liverpool's Stanhope Street following that company's decision to focus production at its Warrington brewery. There was one last push for expansion in [[1927]], when the firm acquired [[Joseph Jones & Co.]] in [[Knotty Ash]]. A further 70 public houses were also taken overadded as a result.

== The later years ==

In [[1962]], Higsons purchased a new head office in North Street, Liverpool. The1974 saw the brewery mergedmerge with [[James Mellor & Sons]]. inIn [[1974]].1978, TheHigsons acquired [[BentsBent's Brewery]], which was based next to theirits North Street head office. inThe North Street,vendor was sold to them bythe [[Bass]] Brewery in [[1978]]. [[Boddingtons]] of [[Manchester]] took overacquired Higsons in [[1985]]. They took thebut decisiondecided to abandon brewing in favour1989 ofto runningfocus aon pubits chain insteadpubs. TheBoddingtons' Boddingtonbrewing breweriesarm werewas sold of to Whitbread in [[1990]] andwhich it was Whitbread who finallysubsequently closed the Higsons Stanhope brewery site shortly afterward.

==The futureRevival of the Higsons brand ==

In [[2005]], the independently ownedformer [[Mayflower Brewery]] in [[Wigan]], restartedoriginally therun brewingby ofa former Higsons beer.brewing Therechemist, arewas planscommissioned to moverecreate the breweryoriginal toHigsons Bitter in a newseries Liverpoolof sitetest inbrews. theThe nearbeer futurewas assubsequently demandproduced forin theLiverpool beerbefore production increasesended.

The beer was later produced by the [[Liverpool Organic Brewery]] in 2011 before the licence to produce the brand ended.

The current range of Higsons beers are:

<ref>[http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/local-news/higsons-bitter-liverpools-famous-ale-6961661 Higsons bitter, Liverpool’s famous ale, is back, thanks to Liverpool Organic Brewery], ''Liverpool Echo''</ref>

* Higsons [[Bitter (beer)|Bitter]] 4.1% [[Alcohol by volume|ABV]]

* [[Porter]] 5.0% ABV

* HB Premium [[Lager]] 5.1% ABV

* Stingo ([[Barley wine]]) 8.0% ABV

== 2017 H1780 Tap & Still opens and Higsons relaunched ==

==Reference==

In December 2015, the [[Liverpool Echo]] reported that a company called Higsons Brewery Limited had applied for planning permission to convert two vacant warehouses in Liverpool into a brewery with a distillery, visitor centre, shop and sampling hall.<ref>[http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/new-brewery-plan-liverpool-city-10665007 New brewery plan for Liverpool city centre], ''Liverpool Echo''</ref>

{{cite web | title=Welcome to the Higson's Brewery Website | url=http://www.higsonsbrewery.co.uk | accessdate=2006-11-20}}

Higsons Brewery Ltd is owned by the former managing director of the [[Caledonian Brewery]] [[Stephen Crawley]]. As well as his 25 years' experience in the brewing industry, Stephen grew up on the Wirral and his wife controls the company which owns the Higsons brand.<ref>[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/jIQRuA3IQR1t4KcuuWwr3H1ZDLY/appointments Companies House]</ref>

In August 2017, it was reported that work on the new premises had begun.<ref>[https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/news/trustland-on-site-with-liverpool-brewery/ Trustland on-site with Liverpool brewery], ''North West Place''</ref>

In December 2017, H1780 opened. It comprises a brewery brewing Higsons and Love Lane beers, gin distillery, three bars and a kitchen. The H in the name is for Higsons and 1780 is the year that Higsons was founded.<ref>[https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/take-look-inside-new-higsons-14053460 Take a look inside the new Higsons Brewery Tap bar], ''Liverpool Echo''</ref>

Four Higsons beers are now produced: Bitter Ale, Pale Ale, Amber Ale and Pilsner

==External linksReferences ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110519025316/http://www.sjsfiles.btinternet.co.uk/flm0901.htm Picture of Stanhope St. Brewery]

*[http://www.h1780tapstill.co.uk/ H1780 Tap & Still]

{{Authority control}}

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[[Category{{DEFAULTSORT:Beer and breweries in England|Higsons Brewery]]}}

[[Category:1780 establishments|Higsons Breweryin England]]

[[Category:LiverpoolManufacturing companies|Higsons Brewerybased in Liverpool]]

[[Category:British companies established in 1780]]

[[Category:Breweries in England]]

[[Category:Food and drink companies established in 1780]]