Davenports Brewery, which was established in Birmingham in 1829, will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day with not just a generously priced £1.50 pint of Drum Bitter across its estate, but also with a special box of Davenports ales available to purchase via its Beer at Home service. What’s more, the company has created a limited-edition postcard using the front cover of their February 1943 issue of the Malts and Hops magazine which featured Sir Winston Churchill, it will be signed by the current Baron W R Davenport and sent out with each celebratory box purchased.
Katie McPhilimey, Associate Marketing Director for Davenports said; “The leading brewery of the time, during the war, Davenports’ turned its focus from ales, to assisting the war effort which meant ales were in short supply. Davenports’ support of the country’s efforts was reflected on the cover of The Malts and Hops internal magazine, which proudly carried a picture of Sir Winston Churchill.
She continued; “Davenports were hailed in the national press and the Birmingham Daily Gazette as being ‘very technically advanced’ during the 30s and 40s, the company boasted “the very latest appliances that science and mechanics have evolved”, – and turned out 120,000 bottles of beer every day! The company also boasted a strong work force that included many women, who took on even greater responsibility during the war whilst so many men were called to action. Whilst Davenports switched the company’s capabilities to the war efforts without hesitation, despite times being tough, the then Baron Davenport continued his investment in technology throughout the war, to ensure that when it was over the company was ready to resume full production and fulfil demand once again.”
To celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, pubs across the Davenports estate will also be selling Drum Bitter at just £1.50 a pint!
Baron W R Davenport added; “It’s not quite 1945 prices, but it’s a seriously cheap price for such a great bitter, and it’s our way of marking such a special day, a day that back in 1945, Davenports played its part in supporting, and in celebrating!”
There aren’t many companies that can boast of being an active and influential part of history – from championing their Beer at Home service in the Law Courts in 1905 to leading on technology and recycling, whilst also being so relevant and award-winning today. Davenports survived not just the war, but the test of time, and evolution, and today boasts a large portfolio of award-winning pubs as well as continuing to brew popular ales to the original recipes. The celebratory box of ales is perfect for enjoying at home during your own VE Day celebrations and serves up not just great tasting ales, but a piece of history with every glass.
The Celebration box includes four bottles of CB Original, four bottles of Mild, four bottles of Top Brew Deluxe, a Davenports bottle opener and a limited-edition postcard and is priced at £29.95 plus delivery. Shop via the Beer at Home website www.davenports.co.uk
Ends
Notes to Editors
The Kings Arms in Kings Heath, The Queens Head in Birmingham, The Coach House in Stratford upon Avon, The Elms in Shareshill, The Met in Walsall, The Littleton Arms in Penkridge and The Butlers Bell in Stafford are just a few of the Davenports pubs offering the £1.50 Drum Bitter pint on the 8th May 2025 only. Whilst stocks last.
For more information please contact katie.mcphilimey@davenports.co.uk
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
2024: August, Davenports acquire The Crown in Kings Heath which will be refurbished and rebranded into a My Local by Davenports.
2024: October: The Kings Arms (formerly The Crown in Kings Heath) opens its doors as a My Local.
May 2025: Davenports launch the VE Day 80th Anniversary celebratory box of ales, and offer a £1.50 pint of Drum Bitter across its estate to mark the anniversary.
For more information please contact katie.mcphilimey@davenports.co.uk
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