BRADFORD, AIRE/WHARFE, PUB & REAL BEER NEWS
BREWERY HISTORY, PUB & BREWERY NEWS FROM CITY OF BRADFORD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
BREWERY HISTORY, PUB & BREWERY NEWS FROM CITY OF BRADFORD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
Malcolm Toft’s Real Beer News
Malcolm Toft’s Real Beer News
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This view shows the then recently built Alhambra Theatre situated at the end Morley Street and the premises of William Whitaker & Co. Ltd; The Old Brewery, Bradford, which was situated at the foot of Great Horton Road. The brewhouse is on the right of the photograph and the oldest part of the structure, the malthouse, is on Brewery Lane which led to Quebec Terrace. The business was said to have been established in 1757 and brewed on the site until 1928.
The theatre was officially opened on March 18th 1914 and demolition of brewery property commenced in September 1928. Between those years this picture was taken. The whole length of Brewery Lane and Quebec Terrace has since been renamed Quebec Street. At the Great Horton Road end of the street there was some ancient kerb edging still remaining when I last visited the area.
The copies of beer bottle labels below were kindly supplied by Keith Osborne.
Little is known about Wm. Whitaker beers as the brewery ceased brewing, as said previously, in 1928. Nothing is known about Guinea Gold Ale advertised on the brewery wall above. I have only seen one newspaper advertisement for the company’s products which was not a simple column and text format. That was published in Bradford Daily Argus in February 1922 and it appears to be their last in print. Pale Ale was then priced at 6d per bottle. It was said to be clear as crystal, sparkling to the last drop. Also mentioned was there dark old City Ale, 11d per pint bottle, and County Ale 9d per pint bottle.
The Bradford Observer 27th October 1859 carried the advert for Wm. Whitaker draught
beers . The prices were per gallon:-
East India Pale Ale..1s 4d
Porter........................1s
Single Stout...............1s 2d
Brown Stout..............1s 4d
X Ale............................10d
XX Ale......................1s
XXX Ale...................1s 2d
XXXX Ale.................1s 4d
Yorkshire Stingo.......1s 6d
Owing to a rapid and increased demand for their India Pale Ale, their stock of last season is entirely cleared out; they will however, have pleasure in registering orders for the next October brewings.
Families were supplied at the above prices in casks from 6 to 36 gallons. October was considered the best month for brewing as the month usually did not have huge variations in temperature.
Label c1900
Alhambra Theatre programme advert 1914
