William Everard (brewer)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 1849 |
| Founder | William Everard, Thomas Hull |
| Headquarters | Leicester , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | Leicestershire and surrounding areas |
Key people | Richard Everard (Chairman) |
| Products | Cask ale (Beacon, Tiger, Original, Sunchaser) |
Number of employees | 700 (1967) |
Everards is a regional brewery located in Leicester, established in 1849 by William Everard alongside Thomas Hull. Specializing in cask ale, the company owns a network of more than 170 tenanted pubs primarily situated within Leicestershire. The current chairman, Richard Everard, represents the fifth generation of family leadership.
History
The enterprise originated as Hull and Everard in 1849 when William Everard, a farmer from Narborough Wood House, partnered with brewer Thomas Hull to lease the Southgate Street Brewery previously operated by Wilmot and Co. While Hull continued his work as a maltster, Everard took charge of expanding the venture until his passing in 1892.
Growth was consistent, with the acquisition of over 100 public houses by the late 1880s. In 1875, operations moved to a newly constructed tower brewery designed by William’s nephew, architect John Breedon Everard. Situated at the intersection of Southgate St and Castle St, this facility utilized pure well water and incorporated steam engines to enhance mechanization.
Following William Everard’s death, management transferred to his son Thomas. In 1895, Everards leased the Bridge Brewery located on Umplett Green island; however, its 10,000-barrel capacity proved inadequate. After its liquidation in 1898, the company replaced it with the Trent brewery on Dale St, while retaining Southgate as a distribution hub. The Trent brewery was fully acquired in 1901 and rebranded as the Tiger Brewery circa 1970.
Production faced challenges during World War I due to conscription and government-imposed limitations on beer strength and raw materials. Around 1920, Everards expanded by acquiring John Sarsons & Son, a local wine and spirit merchant based in Leicester.
Thomas relocated his family to Nanpantan Hall. By 1921, beer output reached a peak of 55,000 barrels, coinciding with the acquisition of the Stamford Arms in Groby—a property formerly connected to Thomas’s ancestors.
Transitioning from rail to steam-powered drays occurred by 1924; these were later replaced by petrol lorries in 1946. Upon Thomas’s death in 1925, his son William Lindsay Everard assumed leadership.
The Great Depression brought a penny tax on beer that caused production to decline by twenty percent and required five years for recovery. Brewing activities ceased at Southgate in 1931. In October 1936, Everards became a publicly traded entity under the name Everards Brewery Ltd.
During World War II, excise duties increased beer prices threefold; conscription and hop shortages further constrained production significantly.
After Sir Lindsay’s passing in 1949, his son Tony Everard took control. In the 1950s, Tony introduced "Everards Friendly Inns," aimed at encouraging female patronage in pubs traditionally frequented mainly by men. The company issued its first long service awards in 1950. The redevelopment associated with Leicester’s inner ring road led to demolition of older pubs but also enabled construction of new establishments such as the Shakespeare in Braunstone and the Firs at Wigston. By 1967, nearly 700 employees worked across a portfolio of 125 pubs.
Tony’s passion for aviation led him to found the Helicopter Club of Great Britain in 1966 and establish a heliport at Ratcliffe. The Airman's Rest hotel catered specifically to aviators and included its own heliport facility.
In 1979, Everards acquired land at Grove Farm triangle; phase one of the Castle Acres brewery opened in March 1985 with an annual capacity of 125 barrels of Old Original ale. The Tiger brewery transitioned into a museum while continuing contract brewing for Tiger beer. By 1990, Castle Acres produced close to 70,000 barrels each year; after ending the contract brewing arrangement, all production returned exclusively to Leicester for the first time since 1892.
Richard Everard became chairman in 1988, reinforcing Everards’ position as an independent family-owned company. In 1997, the firm repurchased outstanding preference shares to regain full private ownership. Investments were also made into budget hotel ventures branded as 'Original Inns,' often linked to existing pub locations.
In February 1999, Everards marked its sesquicentennial anniversary with a visit from Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Celebrations included presentations such as a bronze tiger sculpture gifted to Richard Everard.
By 2002, the company had shifted entirely toward operating tenanted pubs while phasing out managed houses and hotels—a strategy that expanded their estate to a peak of 165 pubs by 2005.
Beers
Everards produces four primary beer varieties alongside a selection of seasonal brews. In 2008-9, their seasonal lineup featured Equinox (September), Sleighbell (December), Pitch Black (February), and Sly Fox (March/April).
- Beacon (3.8%) A lighter alternative to Tiger, this ale takes its name from Beacon Hill, Leicestershire and was first introduced in the early 1970s.
- Tiger (4.2%) Launched in 1972 and named after the Leicestershire Regiment’s nickname, this beer was originally known as Best Bitter. Tiger became Everards' emblematic beer, and the company supported the Leicester Tigers rugby team until 2018.
- Original (5.2%) Previously called Old Original, this old ale debuted in 1978 and was Everards' first beer to be promoted on television. It returned to the Old Original branding in 2022.
- Sunchaser (4.0%)