Watney, Combe, Reid & Co. Ltd

From Brewery History Society Wiki
Revision as of 14:52, 3 October 2019 by Trevoru (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
From Noted Breweries by Alfred Barnard 1890
Watney03.jpg
Watney Bottled ~beer range.jpg
Watney01.jpg
Watney (2).jpg
Watney Combe Reid Pimlico.jpg
Watney London 1981.jpg
Their Trade Mark Directory registration

Watney, Combe, Reid & Co. Ltd, Stag Brewery, Pimlico, London SW1

Founded by William Greene 1641. Came under the control of James Watney 1858.

Registered 1885 as Watney & Co. Ltd. In 1889, they acquired the Mortlake brewery of Phillips, More & Co. Ltd.

Registered as Watney, Combe, Reid & Co. Ltd in June 1898 to amalgamate Watney & Co. Ltd; Combe & Co. Ltd, Woodyard Brewery; and Reid's Brewery Co. Ltd, Griffin Brewery.

After the merger with Mann, Crossman & Paulin Ltd in 1958, the Pimlico Brewery was closed on 23rd April 1959 and brewing was concentrated at Mann's Albion Brewery and Mortlake; the latter was renamed 'Stag Brewery' at this time.

Acquired by Grand Metropolitan Hotels Ltd in 1972 and was merged with Truman, Hanbury & Buxton & Co. Ltd in 1974.

The Hind Statue once in the front of the offices is now located in Lockmeadow shopping mall, Maidstone.


The Watney Family


Takeover and closure trail:

  • Carter, Wood & Co, Artillery Brewery, London SW1 was acquired by Watney & Co Ltd in 1890 and brewing ceased there.
  • The Saffron Walden brewery of William Day & Co was acquired by Watney & Co Ltd in 1895.
  • In 1907, Woodbridge & Co, Yorkshire Stingo Brewery, London W1, with approximately 125 houses were acquired and brewing ceased.
  • J E Dawes & Co of Thames Ditton were acquired in January 1911 and their premises were converted into bottling stores in 1914.
  • John Samuel Bligh, Holmesdale Brewery, Sevenoaks, was acquired in 1911 with 27 tied houses.
  • Isleworth Brewery Ltd, after voluntary liquidation in November 1923 was acquired in 1924 with 228 houses.
  • They acquired Huggins & Co. Ltd, Lion Brewhouse, London W1 in September 1928 and the brewery was closed.
  • Crowley & Co of Alton were acquired in 1947 with 248 public houses and brewing ceased there in August 1970.
  • They acquired Stockwell Brewery Co. Ltd, London SW9 in May 1951 and retained the Hammerton’s off-licences but sold off the pubs to Charringtons.
  • In 1954, the Chichester brewery of Henty & Sons Ltd was acquired with 247 houses of which 120 were resold to Friary, Holroyd & Healy's Breweries Ltd, with part of the brewery.

List of Watney, Combe, Reid & Co. Ltd pubs

The Pimlico brewery features in The Noted Breweries of Great Britain and Ireland by Alfred Barnard published 1890.


An assortment of images of the brewery


Miscellaneous:

Entry in the Trade Mark Registry

Registration No  : 27,262
Description  : Stag & Mountains
Date of Application  : 16/12/1881
Used Prior to 1875?  : 80 years

Registration No  : 479,394
Description  : Advert for "BROWNIE”
Date of Application  : 01/04/1927
Used Prior to 1875?  : NO

Registration No  : 496,257/8/9
Description  : Words "WATNEY”/ "COMBES”/ "REIDS”
Date of Application  : 23/10/1928
Used Prior to 1875?  : NO

Registration No  : 496,585
Description  : Cremorne Gates
Date of Application  : 01/11/1928
Used Prior to 1875?  : NO

Registration No  : 542,562
Description  : Label
Date of Application  : 26/06/1933
Used Prior to 1875?  : NO