Vaux Breweries
Encyclopedia
Vaux Breweries was a major brewer
based in Sunderland. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange
.
The company bought the Sheffield
-based Wards Brewing Company
in 1972, which it retained as a separate subsidiary.
By the 1990s the Vaux Group had expanded into hotels. Despite the brewing business being profitable and an offer to buy it having been received from management, in March 1999 the Board accepted the advice of the Corporate Financier, BT Alex. Brown, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank
, and decided to close both breweries. This caused Chairman Sir Paul Nicholson
, who disagreed with the closure decision, to resign. The company changed its name to Swallow Group plc, and in July sold its tenanted pub estate to a client of the corporate financier, concentrating on Swallow Hotels
business and incorporating the former Vaux-managed pub estate under the Swallow Inns & Restaurants brand. The company was taken over by Whitbread
in 2000, following which most of the hotels were rebranded as Marriott
and the larger pubs were brought under other national brands, such as Brewers Fayre
. Later, 10 hotels unsuitable for Marriott conversions were sold off, forming the nucleus of the current Swallow Hotels chain.
In 2000 two former Vaux directors and the former head brewer formed the Double Maxim Beer Company
, buying the beer brands and recipes. They resurrected the former Samson and Double Maxim lines. The Sunderland brewery was later vacated and the buildings were demolished for redevelopment.
Brewer
Brewer may refer to:*Brewer, someone who makes beer by brewing*Brewer , a disambiguation page that lists people with the surname Brewer*Brewer, Maine, a city in southern Penobscot County, Maine, United States, near the city of Bangor...
based in Sunderland. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
.
History
The Company was founded by Cuthbert Vaux in Sunderland in 1837 and for nearly 170 years was a major employer in the town.The company bought the Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
-based Wards Brewing Company
Wards Brewing Company
Wards Brewing Company was a brewing company based at Sheaf Brewery on Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, England. Now a subsidiary of Double Maxim Beer Company. The most famous brand produced was Wards Best Bitter.-Early years:...
in 1972, which it retained as a separate subsidiary.
By the 1990s the Vaux Group had expanded into hotels. Despite the brewing business being profitable and an offer to buy it having been received from management, in March 1999 the Board accepted the advice of the Corporate Financier, BT Alex. Brown, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank AG is a global financial service company with its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. It employs more than 100,000 people in over 70 countries, and has a large presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the emerging markets...
, and decided to close both breweries. This caused Chairman Sir Paul Nicholson
Paul Nicholson (industrialist)
Sir Paul Douglas Nicholson, KCVO is an English industrialist and current Lord Lieutenant of County Durham.Nicholson was born in Co. Durham and educated at Harrow School and Clare College, Cambridge. Between Harrow and Cambridge, he was commissioned during National Service in The Coldstream Guards...
, who disagreed with the closure decision, to resign. The company changed its name to Swallow Group plc, and in July sold its tenanted pub estate to a client of the corporate financier, concentrating on Swallow Hotels
Swallow Hotels
Swallow Hotels are a hotel chain managed by Crerar Management Ltd.The company is an Edinburgh-based hotel company with a portfolio of 18 hotels, operating in the three and four star sector....
business and incorporating the former Vaux-managed pub estate under the Swallow Inns & Restaurants brand. The company was taken over by Whitbread
Whitbread
Whitbread PLC is a global hotel, coffee shop and restaurant company headquartered in Dunstable, United Kingdom. Its largest division is Premier Inn, which is the largest hotel brand in the UK with around 580 hotels and over 40,000 rooms. Its Costa Coffee chain has around 1,600 stores across 25...
in 2000, following which most of the hotels were rebranded as Marriott
Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. Marriott, Jr...
and the larger pubs were brought under other national brands, such as Brewers Fayre
Brewers Fayre
Brewers Fayre is a chain of around 125 licensed family and casual dining pub restaurants in the United Kingdom, owned by Whitbread.They are known for serving traditional British pub food, including gammon and steak & ale pie which are among the most popular choices. Nearly all Brewers Fayres are...
. Later, 10 hotels unsuitable for Marriott conversions were sold off, forming the nucleus of the current Swallow Hotels chain.
In 2000 two former Vaux directors and the former head brewer formed the Double Maxim Beer Company
Double Maxim Beer Company
The Double Maxim Beer Company was set up to rescue the famous Double Maxim beer, which had ceased production when the Vaux brewery was closed in the same year....
, buying the beer brands and recipes. They resurrected the former Samson and Double Maxim lines. The Sunderland brewery was later vacated and the buildings were demolished for redevelopment.
Former brands
Former beer brands of Vaux include:- Samson bitter
- Double Maxim
- Single Maxim
- Bottled Red Label Ale (sweet stout) & Golden Ale (high alcohol content)
- Sunderland Draught Bitter
- Lorimers Scotch
- Norseman Lager
- Frisk Lager
- Scorpion Lager
- How's Your Father, a light, golden, cask conditioned ale sold in summer.
- Moonlight Mouse, an autumn cask conditioned ale
- Waggledance - a cask conditioned honeyHoneyHoney is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
ale, sold to YoungsYoung's BreweryYoung's is a British pub chain operating nearly 220 pubs.The company was founded as a brewery in 1831 by Charles Young and Anthony Bainbridge when they purchased the Ram Brewery in Wandsworth...
when Vaux ceased brewing - Lambtons An ale named after the LambtonLambton-People:*Edward Lambton, 7th Earl of Durham , or Ned Lambton, is the current Earl of Durham*Antony Lambton , formerly 6th Earl of Durham and later claimed Viscount Lambton, disclaimed his earldom under the terms of the Peerage Act 1963...
family.
See also
- Ernest VauxErnest VauxLieutenant-Colonel Ernest Vaux, CMG, DSO, VD, DL was a British Army officer.A member of the Vaux Breweries family, Vaux was born in Bishopwearmouth, the son of John Story Vaux and his wife, Harriet, née Douglas...
- A Site Dedicated to the HISTORY OF VAUX BREWERY