Heritage, history and great beer all part of what makes Smethwick brewer much loved brand

Breweries have been a part of the region for centuries, providing the welcoming aroma of hops and yeast in the air across Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton and many different types of beer loved by thousands.

In the wake of the news of the planned closure of Banks's Brewery in Wolverhampton, the Express & Star wants to support our local breweries and show that there are still many out there producing quality beers to be enjoyed in pubs from Aldridge down to Smethwick.

As part of our Backing Our Breweries campaign, we are going to look at what different breweries do, how they grew and built up their reputation, what their products are, how they continue to run in what are difficult financial times and what makes them special.

Davenports Brewery is one of the oldest in the region and has enjoyed a colourful and rich history, putting traditional flavours and beers at the heart of its business, but also with an eye to the future.

It was established in 1829 by Robert Davenport in Hockley in Birmingham, with his son Robert moving the brewery to Bath Row in 1852 and, from there, the business began to expand and build.

In 1867, John Davenport and Sons was registered at that address as "Maltsters, Hop Merchants, and makers of Pale and Brown Malt for brewing bitter ales and porter", while Baron John Davenport began the Beer at Home service in 1904 which registered to supply ‘pure bottled ale and stout at the cheapest possible price’.

It quickly reached delivery to 15,000 homes, but in 1905, Davenports was accused of ‘Beer Hawking’, selling beer by retail at a place where they were not authorised (beer at home), which was viewed as a hugely important prosecution, fought and won by the very theatrical barrister, Mr Marshall-Hall K.C, on behalf of Davenports in the Victoria Law Courts. 

Davenports had paved the way for other brewers to follow a similar scheme and continued to lead the way in the industry throughout the 20th century, including using pioneering technology around recycling bottles that were returned by customers, scrupulously cleaned and chilled for reuse in two automatic bottle washing machines at the rate of 12,000 per hour.

Over the years, the brewery has changed homes, been taken over and closed and then come back to life under the stewardship of Baron Wayne Davenport and set up its existing brewery on New Street in Smethwick, as well as becoming a market leader for a very successful chain of award-winning pubs, with several ‘Best Pub’ and ‘Foodie’ awards to boast of.