Some history

Adnams today is about looking to the future rather than the past, but we are proud of our history and heritage and here are a few highlights from along the years.

1345

Johanna de Corby and 17 other ‘ale wives’ of Southwold were charged by the manorial court with breaking the assize of ale. This is the earliest record of beer being brewed on the Adnams site.

1872

George and Ernest Adnams bought the Sole Bay Brewery with the help of their father.

Adnams Brewery circa 1872

1880

George was not cut out for country life in Suffolk so departed for South Africa, where he was eventually eaten by a crocodile.

Adnams Tally Ho 1880

1890

Ernest Adnams and head brewer Thomas Sargaeant signed the Memorandum of Association establishing Adnams & Company Limited.

1902

Jack and Pierse Loftus acquired a stake in the brewery.

1953

Steady growth and great acclaim for their beers, Adnams won the Star of Excellence in Brussels and the Challenge Cup for best beer at the Brewers’ Exhibition.

1963

The tragic death of Nico Loftus led to the third generation of the Adnams and Loftus families joining the business.

Adnams Jack Brand

1970s

The Brewery was substantially enlarged and modernised. This ongoing process continues to this day with state-of-the-art brewing equipment installed earlier this year.

1990

The Adnams Charitable Trust is established to mark its centenary as a public company. The Trust donates a percentage of pre-tax profits to groups and organisations within a 25-mile radius of Southwold.

1999

1999 Adnams introduces its famous ‘ribbons’ logo and successfully relaunches SSB and Broadside in award-winning bespoke 500ml bottles.

2002

To much acclaim, Adnams, Beer from the Coast advertising campaign is launched.

Beer from the Coast Advert

2005

Adnams refreshes its brand with new-look pump clips and a stylish bespoke pint glass. The first Cellar & Kitchen store outside Southwold opens in Holkham, Norfolk. Adnams is awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development.

2006

On the retirement of Simon Loftus, Jonathan Adnams becomes Chairman. The eco-distribution centre is built with its living roof, lime and hemp walls and rain harvesting facility. The Cellar & Kitchen store in Woodbridge opens and the Adnams dray horses retire.

2007

With its commitment to the environment, Adnams reduces the weight of its 500ml bottles from 455g to 299g making them the lightest 500ml beer bottle on the market. The latest stage of the brewery development is completed with the installation of a state-of-the-art energy-efficient brew house. Innovation is not restricted to the infrastructure as Spindrift, a modern English beer is produced.

2008

Adnams opens its new energy efficient brewery and produces East Green, the UK’s first Carbon Neutral beer.