Welcome to Daniel Thwaites
In a world that’s changing faster than ever, it’s comforting that some things withstand the passage of time. It is over two centuries since Daniel Thwaites set out from his family’s Lake District farm to make a new life for himself, and the rest they say, is history. Daniel built up his brewery based on strong family values – an eye for quality and a generous blend of innovation, craftsmanship and warm hospitality. Who would have believed, six generations later, that his family would proudly continue the journey he started and remain faithful to his principles – still striving for brewing perfection, now with a growing collection of pubs, inns, hotels and spas.
Today, our company flourishes and remains steadfastly faithful to Daniel’s principles. Independent and full of character, we proudly continue the journey he started.
20
Investment in yorkshire
Bedroom refurbishments for The Red Lion and Middletons
In April 2023 we completed the bedroom refurbishments of the Lady Anne Middletons Building at Middletons Hotel, York, and The Manor House, at The Red Lion in Burnsall.
As part of the Lady Anne Middletons refurbishment we wanted to focus on details of the building’s past, developing House Suites and Heritage Suites to tell the story further.
At The Red Lion, this was our first significant investment since purchasing the Inn in 2021. We’ve created eight comfortable rooms, timeless in design.
Our Digital Upgrade
New websites launch for our Inns & Hotels
In January 2023 we began the rollout of our new websites across all of our hotels and inns, beginning with Lister Arms, Malham and The Golden Lion, Settle. Our aim was to simplify the customer journey and showcase our outstanding properties through on-trend videography and photography
Bringing it all together
Daniel Thwaites Visual Refresh
In 2022 we refreshed our brand look ahead of a major push to help our customers understand the whole of our company, our rich history, and our story through visuals, new photography and new websites.
Along with our new brand website, we were proud to showcase Daniel Thwaites at the Great Yorkshire Show in spectacular fashion with our pop up Lister Arms. Throughout the four day event thousands of visitors popped in to taste our award winning Thwaites Ale and learn more about everything we do at Daniel Thwaites.
We continue to invest in our properties
Langdale Chase Closure
In September we closed the Langdale Chase hotel to embark on the most extensive refurbishment project since it opened as a hotel in 1937.
We worked closely with local planning authorities and heritage groups to ensure that the original features of the Victorian buildings, which date back to 1895, are preserved and restored to their former glory, with a contemporary feel. The historical features, including the original wooden wall panelling found in the Main Hall and the Thomas Mawson landscaped gardens form a centrepiece of the development.
Further investments saw Middletons Hotel in York and the North Lakes Hotel & Spa underwent extensive refurbishments to improve customer experience, and we launched The Lawn Club at Kettering Park Hotel & Spa. We have also purchased Lendal House, next door to The Judges Lodging in York with plans to further expand our offering in a prime city centre location.
On the road to recovery
Welcome Back
With the pandemic still affecting most areas of the business, 2021 was about innovation in our properties in order to welcome customers back within the government guidelines. Our pubs did an amazing job of supporting the heart of their communities and our inns and hotels trailed new business ideas, such as takeaway food, to provide our customers with the quality they love during the difficult start to the year. We also invested throughout our properties including The Lister Arms, The Beverley Arms and The Judges Lodging to build weatherproof outdoor seating areas to welcome guests back.
2021 also saw a staycation boom which was so important for our business. Our teams were ready to welcome back returning customers and also show new visitors what Daniel Thwaites hospitality is all about throughout our hotels, inns and pubs.
In September we continued to grow our property portfolio with the purchase of the Red Lion Inn in Burnsall. This beautiful 16th century coaching inn in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales joined our collection of outstanding properties in great locations and we plan on brining it in line with the rest of our inns in the next few years.
Lockdown
Navigating the pandemic
Mark O'Sullivan
Head Brewer
Mark O’Sullivan became our Head Brewer. Mark joined Daniel Thwaites in 2003, taking on a number of roles in our Blackburn brewery from spending time in the packaging laboratory, working in the warehouse, beer processing & brewing. Now Mark leads a multiskilled team of 5 brewers who each do all parts of the craft brewing process including creating recipes for our seasonal brews and ensuring we constantly produce beer to the highest standard. He also maintains and leads on development of our brewery, works with the Pub Operations team to ensure the supply chains and production is on time and ready to be distributed to our fantastic properties. He still enjoys his days brewing, keeping his hand in to understand how everything is currently running… ‘the best part of the job’.
a new beginning
Head office relocation
A Breath of Fresh Ale
In the Ribble Valley
The House of Daniel Thwaites
Brand Launch
2018 also saw the launch of The House Of Daniel Thwaites, bringing all of our Inns and Hotels together under one brand.
Inns of character
Award winning properties
Thwaites Inns of Character was launched in 2011, separating our spa hotels from our inns across England. This included The Fleece Inn in Cirencester which became an Inn of Character in 2012, followed by The Judge’s Lodging, York, in 2014 after a £2.2million investment. Thwaites Inns of Character won the Publican Award for Best Accommodation Operator in 2013, cementing ourselves in the sector. Our hotels and spas continued to attract success, winning the AA Hotel Group of the Year 2016-17.
We also won the Publican Awards Best Tenanted Operator – over 200 sites in 2012, and Thwaites 13 Guns received a Gold Award in the International Brewing Awards in 2017. All proving that whatever we put our name to, we do the best we can.
In 2015 the decision was made to sell Beer Co. free trade accounts and Wainwright and Bomber brands to Marston’s, signifying change was coming for Daniel Thwaites.
A new era
For Daniel Thwaites
We also launched the Lancaster Bomber in 2002 along with the opening of Thwaites Theatre in Blackburn. Our pubs portfolio expanded into Yorkshire from 2002 to 2004 which included the multimillion pound purchase of Rosewood Pub Company.
2005 also saw Thwaites marketing history made as we signed England cricketer Andrew Flintoff to be the face of Lancaster Bomber. Flintoff went on to help England retain the Ashes.
In 2007 Thwaites celebrated 200 years of brewing excellence with the Double Century beer.
Success brings opportunity
For Daniel Thwaites
After the success of Cottons and the North Lakes Hotel in the 80’s, further opportunities were found in the early 90’s. Between 1990 and 1993 Aztec near Bristol, Solent in Fareham and Kettering Park hotel opened. All following the same style as the North Lakes hotel, offering a mix of conference facilities with leisure.
In the brewery we launched the Northern Smoothie and Thwaites Smooth in 1996 and begain distributing Warsteiner in 1998.
Shire inns founded
Our first steps into hotels.
In 1980 Shire Inns was founded, this was our first step into hotels and originally consisted of 5 pubs with rooms and the Millstone Inn in Mellor. A room at the Millstone cost £11 a night. A few years later in 1984 Cottons Hotel in Knutsford became part of the Shire Inns, it was originally a pub bought by us back in 1956. Cottons was a storming success and set Shire Inns on course for profitability. A site in Penrith was soon acquired on which we built the North Lakes Hotel. Opening in 1985 it was one of the first hotels in the UK to offer a large indoor pool.
The Brewery continued to grow. We introduced a Stein Pilsner in 1981 and expanded our pub network after acquiring Yates and Jackson of Lancaster for over £5 million. In 1986 we were honured to welcome HRH Princess Anne to our Star Brewery, where she unveiled a plaque after £4million of investment.
In 1985 our Thwaites dray horses were awarded the freedom of Blackburn, after 25 years’ service to the community.
Marvel at our new world
Award winning bitter
The 70’s would also be a proud decade for our brewers; at the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Great British Beer Festival in 1978 our Thwaites Mild was voted tops. The Sunday Mirror followed our award with the line “The North has once more proved it produced Britain’s best beer. ” We won the coveted Supreme Champion Bitter Award amongst other medals.
Supporting local students
Expansion continues
150 years of old dan
The legacy continues
The late 40’s and early 50’s saw changes in the brewing industry with big breweries acquiring smaller local ones. Throughout this period Thwaites acquired Bury Brewing Company and Preston Brewing Company along with their pub portfolios. Mergers were touted, but John Yerburgh preferred to continue his grand mother’s legacy and retain Thwaites as an independent family firm.
We celebrated our 150th Anniversary by brewing Old Dan. Sales rocketed for this bottled beer, capitalising on the trend for bottled beer at the time.
Double Ben introduced
Thwaites begins to bottle beers
Thwaites expansion continues
Thwaites becomes a limited company
Elma Thwaites inherits brewery
Elma Thwaites inherits the Brewery after Daniel Jnr dies. Against all expectations from society at the time, Elma decided not to sell the business and instead continued to grow the brewery with support from family member in situ, William Ward.
Thwaites aCquires snig brook brewery
With the continued growth in consumption of beer and due to the way Daniel ran the brewery, he was able to acquire Snig Brook Brewery which produced 10,000 barrels a year. Daniel also began building new public houses in central areas which allowed Eanam Brewery to expand production to 100,000 barrels a year by 1878. Meanwhile Daniel Thwaites became MP for Blackburn in 1875.
Daniel jnr, John and Thomas
Inherit the brewery
After the death of Daniel Thwaites, brothers Daniel Jnr, John and Thomas inherited the brewery. In 1858 Daniel became the sole owner of the brewery and continued to grow its success by investing profits back in the business, much like his father had previously.
Daniel Thwaites becomes a partner
In Eanam Brewery
Daniel Thwaites
Is Born
