MalcolmToft's Bradford Real Beer News

UPDATED - 09.30 BST 4/8/2008 - SILSDEN, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND.

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BRADFORD BREWERY HISTORY QUESTIONS?

BRADFORD, KEIGHLEY, AIRE/WHARFE CAMRA NEWS LATEST BEER NEWS LOCAL/NATIONAL & EVENTS

AUTHORS' PUB GUIDE

FROM THE TYKE TAVERNER FILES - LANCASTER, WESTGATE, BRADFORD

**WEBLINKS**
LOCAL CAMRA NEWS	BEER-IN-PRINT	BREWERY HISTORY SOCIETY
TOPIC FOLK CLUB	BACK TO TOP	COMMUNITY PUBS FOUNDATION
BREWERY TAP, IDLE

**COORS VISITOR CENTRE CLOSES**
Museum of brewing closes its doors - 2 July, 2008 - By Georgie Hobbs ThePublican.com Supporters lay wreath at the now-closed site but hope it will rise from the ashes The Coors Visitor Centre in Burton, which houses the museum of brewing, has shut its doors to the public following an announcement earlier in the year that it had suffered a drop in visitor numbers. The ceremonial wreath was laid by May Arthur, chairwoman of the Burton & South Derbyshire branch of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), while other members flocked to the museum’s bar, the Brewery Tap, to enjoy one last pint. Coors had pledged an initial £200,000 donation to anyone who would take over the centre – which costs £1million a year to run - plus a yearly £100,000 contribution towards maintenance. But, despite the efforts of Burton MP Janet Dean and culture minister Margaret Hodge, no one has as yet taken up the offer. A CAMRA spokesman said: "We’re very optimistic of the doors opening again, mainly down to the backing that Margaret Hodge has given, writing to other breweries to support a national museum in Burton. And, the Coors funding is very encouraging." It is hoped that the centre will eventually become an independent trust and then a national museum. Worthington's India Pale Ale car, Bass Museum 1984 BACK TO TOP

FROM THE TYKE TAVERNER FILES - LANCASTER, WESTGATE, BRADFORD.

Tom & Agnes Parkinson outside the Lancaster

In 1872 the Lancaster traded as the Gluepot and Stephen Lancaster was licensee at the premises. The local directory for 1879-80 records that the pub had been renamed the Lancaster Hotel and the landlord was Edward Lancaster.
Bradford brewer Joseph Hey & Co. Ltd; acquired the Lancaster near the end of 1923 when the company took over Joseph Spink Ltd; Brownroyd Brewery, Rosse Street, Girlington, Bradford.
During the same decade the Northbrook brewer installed 'House of Hey's' acid etched windows at the pub. These featured the businesses 'star' brands Gold Cup Ale and Victory Ale on the two smaller windows either side of the large pane shown in the picture. The designs were painted on the inside to make them more visible but over the years this gradually peeled off.

The Lancaster, Westgate, Bradford, featured in the Tyke Taverner’s ‘Spotlight’ of March 1979. Tom & Agnes Parkinson were the then popular tenants who had moved into the property during 1975. Tom was a softly-spoken Irishman and Agnes hailed from the granite city, Aberdeen. The author of the Tyke Taverner article stated that "In the three and a half years Tom & Agnes had been in charge, I have never seen a hint of trouble in either bar. The pub exudes friendliness from its honest down to earth locals, but mainly from its landlord and landlady".
Unfortunately in 1983 when the couple received a letter from Webster's stating the beer was going up again, Tom telephoned the brewery to inform them - enough is enough - my resignation is on its way. The rent had more than doubled in that year although the turnover hadn't. They complained that the roof hadn't been fixed after a fire next door a couple of years previously and it took ages for the pub sign to be repaired. Tom and Agnes thought there was no need for a beer price increase because Websters were receiving extra money from all their tenants in rents.

Tom & Agnes 'man' the lounge bar
The couple moved into a flat a Fairweather Green area of Bradford but kept in touch with the licensed trade by doing stints of holiday 'relief work'. They were seen behind the bar at the Shoulder of Mutton, Kirkgate, Bradford, on a number of occasion until their final retirement.

The frontage of the Lancaster

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The Lancaster backroom provided a useful venue for quizes & meetings
The back room provided a useful venue for quizzes & Bradford CAMRA committee meetings

Tom pulls a pint
Tom carefully pulls a pint

Tom & Agnes receive a leaving present from
Bradford CAMRA.
Presented by Josie Boothroyd (pictured left)

Competition in the Bradford city-centre pub trade increased when Tetley and Webster sold off some property in the 1980s. Large numbers of customers wanted something different from Webster and Tetley brands. The Preston became the still renown Fighting Cock, the New Beehive changed name to the Bradfordian for a time before returning to its old title and the Royal Standard also became became a free house. The Backstage transformed into the YSB (Yorkshire Small Brewers) and then returned to its original name the Castle. Tetley jumped on the bandwagon with the Rams Revenge following changes at Yates' in Ivegate. There manager Graham Dawson introduced a wider range of ales after the initial trials of Boddington's Mild and Bitter on electric pump by the previous management.

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Successors to the Lancaster, Lyn & Colin, receive the Bradford CAMRA Pub of the Month award for November 1984 from Dave Boothroyd (pictured left)
Successors, after a brief interlude from another couple, to the Lancaster, Lyn & Colin, receive
the Bradford CAMRA Pub of the Month award for November 1984 from Dave Boothroyd (pictured left)

At the Lancaster Wilson's Bitter was tried in addition to the Webster brands, but in the end it was an unequal struggle with recently established local free houses and Colin and Lyn departed for the Lake District. The couple later left the UK for Cyprus and there they ran a grocers shop. They are now in retirement on the island.
They were followed by Terry (sadly no longer with us) and Carole. Ansells Mild made an appearance on the bar for a time and Wadworth 6X was also sampled. Unfortunately this proved to be an 'Indian summer' at the Lancaster as far as good beer was concerned and after the couple left the pub became keg only.
Around the year 2000 the Lancaster closed and the building was offered for sale at around the £60,000 mark. It appears that no one saw any commercial potential in premises and demolition took place in June 2002. A grassed area with shrubs marks the spot where the 'Lanc' stood.

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EARLY BREWERY TV ADVERTISING

Webster advert 1977
Tyke Taverner Webster advert in 1977

My earliest recollection of brewery TV advertising was for bottled Webster's Green Label. This was during the first few years of the 1960s. A short cartoon featured "Wee Sam", the company logo. A 'W' formed the trunk of the character's body. In the commercial Wee Sam walked into view and raised a hand holding a stalk of barley. As if by magic, 'ping', an arc was formed from the barley over Sam's head into a pint glass held in the figure's other hand and the container was filled.
By the second half of the 1970s Fred Trueman was fronting the company's advertising. In one film a flame issued forth from the legendary fast-bowler's mouth but thankfully a sip of Pennine Bitter soon quenched that. All this was accompanied by brass band music.
Fred Trueman was for many years a summariser for BBC Radio's Test Match Special and on one occasion, during a break for bad weather, he recalled his early days at Yorkshire County Cricket Club. A club coach told him to drink stout to build up his weight. He declared that he had drunk Wappy Stout, brewed by John Ainley & Sons Ltd; Wapping Spring Brewery, Lindley Moor, Huddersfield.

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British Brewer's poster
Support your local traditional beer brewer
while you have the chance!

Tom & Agnes Parkinson outside the Lancaster	In 1872 the Lancaster traded as the Gluepot and Stephen Lancaster was licensee at the premises. The local directory for 1879-80 records that the pub had been renamed the Lancaster Hotel and the landlord was Edward Lancaster. Bradford brewer Joseph Hey & Co. Ltd; acquired the Lancaster near the end of 1923 when the company took over Joseph Spink Ltd; Brownroyd Brewery, Rosse Street, Girlington, Bradford. During the same decade the Northbrook brewer installed 'House of Hey's' acid etched windows at the pub. These featured the businesses 'star' brands Gold Cup Ale and Victory Ale on the two smaller windows either side of the large pane shown in the picture. The designs were painted on the inside to make them more visible but over the years this gradually peeled off. The Lancaster, Westgate, Bradford, featured in the Tyke Taverner’s ‘Spotlight’ of March 1979. Tom & Agnes Parkinson were the then popular tenants who had moved into the property during 1975. Tom was a softly-spoken Irishman and Agnes hailed from the granite city, Aberdeen. The author of the Tyke Taverner article stated that "In the three and a half years Tom & Agnes had been in charge, I have never seen a hint of trouble in either bar. The pub exudes friendliness from its honest down to earth locals, but mainly from its landlord and landlady". Unfortunately in 1983 when the couple received a letter from Webster's stating the beer was going up again, Tom telephoned the brewery to inform them - enough is enough - my resignation is on its way. The rent had more than doubled in that year although the turnover hadn't. They complained that the roof hadn't been fixed after a fire next door a couple of years previously and it took ages for the pub sign to be repaired. Tom and Agnes thought there was no need for a beer price increase because Websters were receiving extra money from all their tenants in rents.
Tom & Agnes 'man' the lounge bar The couple moved into a flat a Fairweather Green area of Bradford but kept in touch with the licensed trade by doing stints of holiday 'relief work'. They were seen behind the bar at the Shoulder of Mutton, Kirkgate, Bradford, on a number of occasion until their final retirement.	The frontage of the Lancaster
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The back room provided a useful venue for quizzes & Bradford CAMRA committee meetings	Tom carefully pulls a pint
Tom & Agnes receive a leaving present from Bradford CAMRA. Presented by Josie Boothroyd (pictured left)	Competition in the Bradford city-centre pub trade increased when Tetley and Webster sold off some property in the 1980s. Large numbers of customers wanted something different from Webster and Tetley brands. The Preston became the still renown Fighting Cock, the New Beehive changed name to the Bradfordian for a time before returning to its old title and the Royal Standard also became became a free house. The Backstage transformed into the YSB (Yorkshire Small Brewers) and then returned to its original name the Castle. Tetley jumped on the bandwagon with the Rams Revenge following changes at Yates' in Ivegate. There manager Graham Dawson introduced a wider range of ales after the initial trials of Boddington's Mild and Bitter on electric pump by the previous management.
	BACK TO TOP
Successors, after a brief interlude from another couple, to the Lancaster, Lyn & Colin, receive the Bradford CAMRA Pub of the Month award for November 1984 from Dave Boothroyd (pictured left)	At the Lancaster Wilson's Bitter was tried in addition to the Webster brands, but in the end it was an unequal struggle with recently established local free houses and Colin and Lyn departed for the Lake District. The couple later left the UK for Cyprus and there they ran a grocers shop. They are now in retirement on the island. They were followed by Terry (sadly no longer with us) and Carole. Ansells Mild made an appearance on the bar for a time and Wadworth 6X was also sampled. Unfortunately this proved to be an 'Indian summer' at the Lancaster as far as good beer was concerned and after the couple left the pub became keg only. Around the year 2000 the Lancaster closed and the building was offered for sale at around the £60,000 mark. It appears that no one saw any commercial potential in premises and demolition took place in June 2002. A grassed area with shrubs marks the spot where the 'Lanc' stood.
BACK TO TOP