All Mix Blog

Limited edition Minis to be decked out with Rolls Royce interior touches Reasonable Royal Wedding product alert: Stoke brewery partners with pottery to produce ceramic bottle Life at the Dyson R&D dept sounds pretty fun Retailer to fund UK manufacturing apprenticeships First new MG in 16 years rolls off production line at Longbridge, Birmingham

Another find from last weekend's visit to Tonbridge, Kent, this handsome card is part of a series from the early 1950s that Whitbread used to give away with each pint ( or so we are led to believe ) in its pubs. This particular example depicts the sign from the Queen's Head in Maidstone and is on aluminium. Handsome.

An enjoyably positive story to kick off December here . The Highgate Brewery in Walsall has been saved (for the time being) and is hoping to benefit from customers drinking at home over the Christmas period after a surge in demand for its five litre festive cask ales. The wonderfully named Joanne Toon, spokeswoman for Highgate, told the Birmingham Post, ' It is keeping us afloat after a traumatic time, but we are determined to be able to supply everyone.' A quick online search for a retailer selling the festive ale proved fruitless. However, there's some nice merchandise available here on the Friends of Highgate Brewery site. Photo from Express & Star

Meanwhile, in the Midlands, Kammac, the only manufacturer of giant 100 litre casks is reporting brisk business. Due to small real ale breweries popping up all over the land, demand is the highest it has been for some time. Speaking on the local BBC news , (what M&I presume is) a spokesman for Kammac said, 'any publican who is not selling a local real ale could be missing out on a real business winner here.' According to the BBC report almost 2,500 British pubs closed last year, at the rate of 39 a week. However, brewers are reporting positive results: a 17% increase in turnover last year and a 4% increase in production during the recession. Can the UK's real ale boom mirror the craft beer revolution in the US? We sincerely hope so.

Roger Protz of The Morning Advertiser (officially the 'pub trade's favourite') reports that Truman's , the brewery formerly based on Brick Lane, is producing beer once again. The motivations of the gentlemen behind it are admirable and an M&I source tells us that 'Truman's Runner is an easy drinking and well balanced pint that is refreshing whilst retaining a depth of warm flavours.' Protz's well informed article is well worth a read if you are so inclined. It also includes a list of London based pubs that Truman's Runner is stocked at. Image from Truman's

New branded awnings, the development of a brewery/pub/restaurant to open in March (coinciding with the 10 year anniversary of the company) - 2010 looks set to be a memorable one for Greenwich's Meantime Brewery. Click on the title to go to Meantime's blog.

Originally named The Kingston Brewery, founded in about 1610. The brewery was sold to William Hodgson in 1854. It was acquired by Courage in 1943 and ceased to brew in 1965. (According to Richmond, L and Turton, A in The Brewing Industry, Manchester University Press, 1990) It appears that there is very little other information regarding Hodgson's available on the internet. These photos were purchased from this gentleman (who has been a member of the delightfully titled ' Ephemera Society ' since 1987) on eBay.

Open your beer and learn a little history at the same time. A lovely promotional product from the now defunct east London brewery.