Robinsons Family Brewers - Brewing Excellence

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

By 1878 when William (aged 14) joined him he owned two licensed houses and a horse and dray to deliver his beer, which at his death in 1890 had become twelve houses. The business then passed to his widow Emma who on the 7th October 1920 relinquished sole control with the formation of the Company with her son subsequently being joined by his sons Frederic, John and Cecil onto 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 both by acquisition and new builds and the geographical area - the first welsh house - Black Lion, Llanfairtalhaiarn being brought in 1943.

By the early 1950's when the next generation - Peter, Dennis and David - were joining the Company thoughts were beginning to turn to keg beer and subsequently the need for bottling stores rationalisation. The development of our land at Bredbury commenced on the 14th November 1973 with the first bottling on the 15th October 1975.

The phased development has continued and now all our beers after fermenting is complete is processed and distributed from there. Bottling for many customers takes place and beers end up on the supermarket shelves and abroad.

During the 1990's the sixth generation of the family began to join the business - Neil, Veronica, Paul, Oliver and William. They were elected to the Board on 30th September 2003. Three years later in September 2006, Sara another sixth generation family member joined the Company and so development of the estate together with production and sales for the future will remain in Robinson family hands.

 

Opportunities have arisen over the years to acquire other companies and their houses and these are now a part of the whole, though some names are now used the dates have great significance in the Company’s development. These being John Heginbotham Ltd, Stalybridge 1915; T Schofield & Son, Ashton under Lyne 1926; Kays Atlas Brewery Ltd, Ardwick 1929; Bell & Co Ltd, Stockport 1949 and Hartleys (Ulverston) Ltd 1982.