Our brewery takes its name from the Unicorn Inn which was bought by William Robinson on the 29th September 1838. This stood on what is now the bottom yard in Lower Hillgate, Stockport. William was joined in 1865 by his younger son Frederic, who started to brew beer for other local hostelries and his first customer was Mrs. Lamb (Bridge Inn, Chestergate). On the 3rd May 1876, shortly after his father’s death, he bought his first house the Royal Scot, Marple Bridge (then the Railway Inn).

By 1878 when Frederic’s son William, aged 14, joined him, he owned two licensed houses and a horse and dray to deliver his beer. When Frederic died in 1890 he owned 12 public houses. The business then passed to his widow Emma who on the 7th October 1920 relinquished sole control, with the formation of a limited Company with William. His sons, Frederic, John and Cecil joined the board on the 1st January 1926.

With bottling commencing from a new building in 1908, new offices in 1913 and a new brew house in 1929, by Williams death in 1933, despite the countries difficult economic position, Robinsons was in a sound position.

Over the following years with John’s foresight, the estate grew by acquisition, new buildings and extending the geographical area. The first welsh house – The Black Lion, Llanfairtalhaiaran was bought in 1943.

By the early 1950’s when the next generation – Peter, Dennis and David were starting to join the Company, thoughts were beginning to turn to keg beer and subsequently the need for rationalising the bottling arrangements. These were being carried out on the Unicorn Brewery site and the former Bell & Co brewery site on Hempshaw Lane, Stockport. The development of our land at Bredbury commenced on the 14th November 1973 with the first bottling on the 15th October 1975.