14/05/2026
Look what Ian of Burton Ale Trail found! This fantastic article on our origins was printed in CAMRA's What's Brewing magazine in July 1982.
Text reads:
A new chapter in Burton’s history
by Brian Glover
THE new small brewery revolution has reached the heart of British brewing — Burton-upon-Trent.
The Burton Bridge Brewery last month joined the giants like Bass and Ind Coope brewing in the famous Staffordshire town. And although tiny in comparison, they have big ambitions.
Pioneers Bruce Wilkinson and Geoff Mumford have installed a 15-barrel plant in the former Fox and Goose pub in Bridge Street, and intend to build production up to 100 barrels a week.
Within the next few days they aim to open a bar at the front of the three-storey stone building to serve their 1042 gravity Bridge Bitter. But Bruce Wilkinson stresses: “We are not a pub with a brewery in the backyard. But a brewery with a bar at the front.”
He has had considerable experience brewing with Allied, ending as technical manager for Ind Coope’s Romford Brewery. Geoff Mumford was head of the engineering side at the same plant; between them they have 25 years experience in the industry.
That experience shines through their equipment, which they have designed themselves. The gas-fired tubular boiler, using a new energy-saving system, is particularly impressive.
It also shines through the beer — which is an excellent Burton bitter that can stand up against Marston’s Pedigree. They are even hoping to buy some of the doomed Union system from Bass in order to develop the traditional method of Burton brewing.
When I visited they were working in what was virtually a building site. “The pub was in a hell of a state when we moved in,” said Bruce Wilkinson. “It was a Bass house, but had been closed for two years.”
The brewery has been fitted into what were the snug and smoke rooms, with vessels even fitted into the fireplaces.
The bar which is about to open at the front — containing pews from the Manchester Methodist chapel where Harold Wilson’s mother and father were married — is only temporary. Within 18 months they intend to build extra fermenting vessels through the floor from the cellars below, so passers-by can watch the beer working.
The bar will then be moved into a huge room above the outside stables behind. This will be decorated with breweriana ranging from old crown corking machines to etched pub windows.
“It will be our shop window,” said Bruce, “and will be the only place to offer the full range of Burton beers from Bass, Ind Coope, Marstons and Everards, besides our own ales. The bar will also act as our quality control, as we can check our beers against the others.”
He claims that the 100 per cent malt Bridge Bitter is the only Burton ale to use whole hops throughout the brewing process.
Other beers are likely to follow. “But it will depend on the feedback we get from our customers,” said Geoff Mumford. “If they want a mild, we will brew a mild; if they want a stronger ale, we will try that; if they want a lager or brewery-conditioned beers, we will look into that.”
How have the big boys reacted to this new upstart in their midst?
“They have been very interested, and very helpful,” said Geoff, quickly adding: “But we have not gone cap in hand to them. It would be very easy to go down the road for yeast etc., but we want to stand on our own feet.” Their yeast has come from the National Yeast Collection.
“That’s why we have set up the brewery. We wanted to be our own bosses. At Romford we were both getting further and further away from the work we like. We were becoming administrators. Now we are back on the ground floor. And there’s just two of us to make the decisions. Everything happens so much faster.”
The venture has so far cost them £40-50,000, including the huge building, and they estimate it will take them five years to build up to 100 barrels a week.
“But we are confident we will get there. We aim to be brewing in Burton for a long time to come.”
It is a poignant comment, particularly when you realise that behind the Bridge Brewery is the Bargates shopping precinct and car park, where Salts Brewery once stood. While next door Nunnelly House was used for brewing in the last century.
Photo caption:
“Bruce Wilkinson (left) and Geoff Mumford enjoy a pint down the cellar.”
Picture: Derby Evening Telegraph.
