Two major facets of Birmingham’s history have collaborated to create a limited-edition Bitter that adds a unique perspective to time spent in ‘the lock up.’
Davenports Brewery have created a limited-edition Bitter that pays homage to the heritage of its neighbour, the West Midlands Police Museum. The name given to this 4.0% Best Bitter that boasts characteristics of gold medal-winning Davenports Original Bitter, is ‘The Lock Up’! Davenports Brewery are also kindly donating £1 from every pint of The Lock Up sold in The Queens Head to the Police Museum who are also stocking the ale in their gift shop!
Cen Hayward, Sales Director for Davenports added; “We are immensely proud of our brewing heritage – we see it as a huge asset, likewise, the West Midlands Police Museum boasts a history that shaped the police and justice system across the UK, it is fascinating. I toured the ‘lock up’ – I didn’t linger too long in the cell…but was amazed by how pioneering the police force in Birmingham were and the incredible characters attached to it, I won’t give too much away as I really feel that the Museum is worth a visit, and the Bitter is most definitely worth purchasing and savouring.”
The Lock Up is brewed in Birmingham by Davenports Brewery, who in addition to creating award-winning ales since 1829, also boasts a portfolio of award-winning pubs across the Midlands. Available in 500ml bottles, the ale is a classic golden straw beer that delivers a crisp, refreshing taste. It has a light fragrance with delicious malt flavours. This fine fettle ale is balanced using British hops, Fuggles and Progress.
Baron Wayne R Davenport, Managing Director of Davenports Brewery also commented on the collaboration; “Leading historians have said that Davenports helped shape the culture of Birmingham, it was such an important part of the fabric of society from employing people to the social element of life. Our heritage is an asset to us, and having explored the history of the West Midlands Police Museum – understanding just how pioneering the police and characters behind the force where all those years ago, I think it was a good call to name this ale after the historical lock up”
The West Midlands Police Museum, located at 40 Steelhouse Lane, is open to the public, see their website for dates and times www.museum.west-midlands.police.uk It can also be hired for private functions or murder mysteries. The Lock Up can be purchased from their gift shop or swing by popular pub The Queens Head, also on Steelhouse Lane where the ale is being served.
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Below we have listed interesting facts about Davenports and The West Midlands Police Museum
Davenports Brewery Interesting Facts
Davenports was established in 1829.
1902: A new branch of the business started – manufacturing, bottling, and delivering Davenports non-deposit ale and stout.
1904: Davenports C.B Ltd, registered to supply ‘pure bottled ale and stout at the cheapest possible price’. Quickly reaching delivery to 15,000 homes.
Famous Legal Battle: In 1905 Davenports was accused of ‘Beer Hawking’, selling beer by retail at a place where they were not authorised (beer at home), It was viewed as a hugely important prosecution, fought brilliantly, and won by the very theatrical barrister, Mr Marshall-Hall K.C, on behalf of Davenports in the Victoria Law Courts. Marshall-Hall was later knighted. Davenports had paved the way for other brewers to follow a similar scheme.
The Co-operative beer bottle…A Double Inducement: Within a month of the dismissal of the beer hawking accusation, C.B Ltd launched its prospectus to potential shareholders in the company, which already had proven ‘progressive, substantial, and satisfactory.’ Half of the shares were Ordinary and were divided equally between the three directors and John Davenport and Sons brewery, and half were advertised as customers’ shares. Those who bought them had to commit to buying ten shillings’ worth of bottled ale (CB) or Stour (CS) over a six-month period; if they did not do this, they had to sell their shares at the paid-up value. Holders of these shares were entitled to a 5% cumulative preference dividend and half of the surplus profits of the company in proportion to what they had spent in the year after 5% had been paid to the Ordinary shareholders. The FT wryly dubbed the scheme ‘A Co-operative Beer Bottle,’ more seriously and optimistically, Davenports advertised it as ‘devised to give EVERY shareholder a double inducement to further the interests of the Company.’
Early pioneers in advertising. By 1910, it was obvious that much thought was put into making advertisements lively, pertinent, and appealing. With Davenports seen in national press.
1922 Motorised lorries expanded delivery capability.
Technology: in 1930, The Birmingham Daily Gazette stressed that few of Davenports’ rivals could claim to be as modern in equipment as Davenports which boasted ‘The very latest appliances that science and mechanics have evolved’. In total, three batteries of machines with ten machines in each turned out 120,000 bottles of beer every day!
Continued Investment: More investment in the bottling plant meant that a few years later, Davenports were capable of 24,000 bottles per hour!
Pioneers of Recycling: In the 1930’s, Davenports championed recycling bottles that were returned by customers. Scrupulously cleaned and chilled for reuse in two automatic bottle washing machines at the rate of 12,000 per hour.
1937: More than 250,000 regular customers.
Famous Slogan: In 1939, the ‘Beer at Home Means Davenports’ slogan was first introduced.
That Jingle: Davenports gained much publicity from an advert that featured marketing director Carl Daniels and a catchy ditty:
Beer at Home means Davenports,
That’s the beer, lots of cheer.
The finest hops with malt and yeast
Turns a snack into a feast.
Straight from brewery to your home,
Why collect, we’ll deliver.
Soon you’ll know why folks all say,
Beer at Home means Davenports.
Costing little to make, it was credited with boosting sales to such an extent that in 1973 Davenports’ profits reached just under £1million compared to £86,000 in 1961.
2021: Despite the terrible impact of the pandemic on the industry, Davenports managed to acquire new pubs and venues, refurbish existing pubs whilst also launching ‘Beer at Home’.
Making A Difference:
Reducing box size and lessening void fills all adds to reducing lorries on roads each year.
2022: The Queens Head opened its doors on Steelhouse Lane Birmingham
2022: The Coach House wins Best Pub or Bar in Coventry & Warwickshire 2022 at the Foodie Awards.
2022: The Coach House wins Best Pub, Bar or Restaurant at The Stratford Herald Business & Tourism Awards.
2022: Davenports returns the brand to Kidderminster with the opening of The Post House, formerly the site of The Red Man pub.
2023: January, Davenports add the award-winning Littleton Arms in Penkridge to their portfolio.
2023: February, Davenports launches Drum Bitter, 3.6% ABV.
2023: The Coach House is the only Midlands pub through to the prestigious Finals of Great British Pub Awards 2023. Four pubs from London, on from Liverpool and The Coach House!
2023: The Coach House is through to the finals of the West Midlands Combined Authority Tourism Awards 2024, Best Pub…the winner is announced March 2024
2023: Davenports Brewery invest over £250,000 into new brewery facilities at their HQ. John Spellar MP unveils a plaque to celebrate the investment.
2023: The Coach House wins Best Pub, BAR OR Restaurant and Best Customer Experience at the prestigious Stratford Herald Business & Tourism Awards 2023.
2023: Old Ale is relaunched in time for Christmas.
2024: The Post House rebrands as a My Local by Davenports.
2024: February, launch of the new My Local pub, The Butler’s Bell
2024: May, Davenports launches its brand-new Loyalty Card at The Met, which will be rolled out to other venues in due course.
2024: August, Davenports acquire The Crown in Kings Heath which will be refurbished and rebranded into a My Local by Davenports.
Notes on West Midlands Police Museum
West Midlands Police Museum has been based at the Steelhouse Lane Lock-Up since April 2022 following a £1m Heritage Lottery Fund grant which refurbished the building and turned it into a permanent heritage attraction. An original Victorian lock-up, the building is normally open to the public Wednesday to Sunday (pre-booking is advised) and for school and group visits, guided tours, history talks and other events. The museum celebrates the past 200 years of policing history across the region, from the creation of the first professional police forces to the pioneering officer stories, tales of heroism and courage and showcasing how policing has developed.
This year, West Midlands Police is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and is bringing out several new, special products to help commemorate the occasion. Several of these commemorative items such as challenge coins and pin badges are available to purchase from the shop in the museum or the website.
For details of what they offer, different events, the online shop and to book tickets – visit the website: museum.west-midlands.police.uk.
For more information on the museum please contact Corinne Brazier corinne.brazier@westmidlands.police.uk
Media contact: Katie McPhilimey katie.mcphilimey@davenports.co.uk
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