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Everards

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Everards is an independent Leicester brewery and pub company best known for cask ales and its regional tenanted-pub estate.

Last updated November 4, 2026

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Overview

Everards is a family-controlled regional brewery and pub company based in Leicester, England. Founded in 1849 by farmer William Everard and brewer Thomas Hull, the business began as Hull and Everard after the partners leased the Southgate Street Brewery from Wilmot and Co. Everard became the driving force in the partnership, while Hull continued to work as a maltster. Over time, the company developed from a Leicester brewery into a vertically integrated regional drinks business built around beer production, tied pubs, hospitality, and related drinks distribution. The company expanded rapidly during the nineteenth century by acquiring and operating licensed outlets. By the late 1880s it had more than 100 pubs. In 1875 it moved production to a large tower brewery at the corner of Southgate Street and Castle Street. The site used deep wells for brewing water and steam power for mechanisation. As Burton-upon-Trent became an increasingly important national brewing centre, Everards also established a presence there. It leased the Bridge Brewery in 1895 and acquired the Trent Brewery in 1901 after the latter became available following liquidation. The Burton operation later became known as the Tiger Brewery. Everards’ development was repeatedly shaped by wider economic and political events. The First World War brought restrictions on beer strength, opening hours, ingredients, and staffing. The company diversified into wine and spirits in the early twentieth century through the acquisition of John Sarsons & Son, a Leicester wine and spirit merchant. Beer output reached a recorded peak in 1921, but the Great Depression, beer taxation, and declining demand forced production reductions, with brewing eventually ending at Southgate in 1931. Everards became a public company in 1936, before later returning to private family ownership. The post-war period saw the business modernise its pubs and strengthen its regional identity. Under Tony Everard, the company introduced the Everards Friendly Inns concept during the 1950s. These pubs were designed to feel more domestic and welcoming, helping broaden the appeal of pubs to women as well as men. The company also built replacement pubs when older properties were lost to urban redevelopment, and by the late 1960s it employed nearly 700 people and operated approximately 125 pubs. Everards’ beer portfolio became centred on regional cask ales, particularly Tiger, Beacon, Original or Old Original, and Sunchaser, supplemented by seasonal beers. Tiger, first produced in 1972, became the company’s signature beer and was associated with the tiger symbol adopted in the same period. Old Original is a stronger traditional ale, while Beacon and Sunchaser provide lighter alternatives. The company has also produced seasonal beers such as Equinox, Sleighbell, Pitch Black, and Sly Fox. A major strategic change came with the construction of the Castle Acres brewery at Grove Farm Triangle. Work began after the company acquired the site in 1979, and the first phase opened in 1985. The facility eventually enabled Everards to bring all its brewing back to Leicester, ending the long period in which production was divided between Leicester and Burton. The former Burton Tiger Brewery became a museum, although Tiger continued for a time under contract. By 1990, Castle Acres was producing almost 70,000 barrels. In 1988 Richard Everard became chairman and reaffirmed the company’s intention to remain independent and family controlled. Everards repurchased its remaining preference shares in 1997, returning the business to private ownership. It also experimented with budget accommodation through Original Inns. In 2002, management decided to move from a mixed estate of tenanted and managed houses to a tenancy-only model. This restructuring was followed by expansion of the pub estate, which reached 165 outlets by 2005; the company is described as owning more than 170 tenanted pubs, mainly in and around Leicestershire. Everards remains positioned as a regional, independent brewer with a strong local presence rather than a national volume competitor. Its identity rests on family continuity, Leicester heritage, cask-conditioned beer, tied pubs, and the Tiger brand. Richard Everard is identified as the company’s fifth-generation chairman in the reference material. The business’s current scale, ownership structure, and regional focus distinguish it from the large multinational brewing groups that dominate the wider UK beer market.

History

Everards was established in Leicester in 1849 when William Everard and Thomas Hull leased the Southgate Street Brewery. Everard, a farmer from Narborough Wood House, became the principal manager of the enterprise, while Hull retained his role as a maltster. The company expanded through the acquisition of pubs and other licensed outlets, reaching more than 100 pubs by the late nineteenth century. In 1875 the brewery moved to a purpose-built tower brewery at Southgate Street and Castle Street. The site used deep wells and steam-powered equipment, reflecting the industrialisation of brewing during the period. The company later expanded into Burton-upon-Trent, first leasing the Bridge Brewery in 1895 and then purchasing the Trent Brewery in 1901. The Burton facility became an important production site and was eventually renamed the Tiger Brewery. World War I imposed restrictions on beer strength, trading hours, ingredients, and staffing. After the war, Everards diversified by acquiring John Sarsons & Son, a Leicester wine and spirit merchant. Production reached a reported high point in 1921, but the Great Depression and beer taxation reduced demand. Brewing at the original Southgate site ended in 1931. Everards was incorporated as a public company in 1936. World War II brought further disruption through conscription, ingredient shortages, and increased excise duty. Following the death of Sir Lindsay Everard in 1949, Tony Everard led the company. During the 1950s he developed Everards Friendly Inns, a pub format intended to create a more homelike environment and attract a broader clientele. The company continued to add and rebuild pubs, including properties constructed after older outlets were removed during Leicester road development. By 1967 it employed almost 700 people and operated 125 pubs. The company strengthened its beer branding during this era. Beacon was introduced in the early 1970s and named after Beacon Hill in Leicestershire. Tiger was first produced in 1972, initially under the name Best Bitter, and was associated with the tiger emblem and the local Leicestershire Regiment nickname. Old Original, later marketed again as Old Original, dates from 1978 and became the first Everards beer advertised on television. Everards began developing a new brewery at Grove Farm Triangle after purchasing land in 1979. The first phase of Castle Acres opened in 1985. The Burton Tiger Brewery was converted into a museum, although beer production continued under contract for a period. By 1990 Castle Acres was producing nearly 70,000 barrels and Everards had returned all of its own brewing to Leicester. Richard Everard became chairman in 1988 and maintained that the company would remain an independent family business. In 1997 the company repurchased its remaining preference shares and became private again. It also developed Original Inns, a budget hotel concept linked to existing pubs. In 1999 the company marked its 150th anniversary with events across its pub estate and a visit by Prince Philip. In 2002 Everards decided to change its pub model from a combination of managed and tenanted houses to a tenancy-only estate. The number of pubs subsequently reached 165 by 2005, and the company is described as operating more than 170 tenanted pubs, mainly in the Leicestershire region. The business continues to combine regional brewing, cask-ale production, family ownership, and a local pub network.

  • 2005

    Pub estate reaches 165 outlets

    [1]

    After the estate restructuring and expansion, the company’s pub portfolio reached its reported high of 165 outlets.

  • 2002

    Shift to a tenancy-only pub model

    [1]

    The company decided to move from a mixed managed-and-tenanted estate to a tenancy-only model.

  • 1999

    150th anniversary

    [1]

    Everards celebrated its 150th anniversary with events across its pubs and a visit by Prince Philip.

  • 1997

    Return to private ownership

    [1]

    Everards repurchased its remaining preference shares and returned to private family ownership.

  • 1990

    Brewing consolidated in Leicester

    [1]

    Castle Acres was producing nearly 70,000 barrels, and Everards’ beer was again brewed entirely in Leicester.

  • 1988

    Richard Everard becomes chairman

    [1]

    Richard Everard became chairman and publicly reaffirmed the company’s independent family-business strategy.

  • 1985

    Castle Acres brewery opens

    [1]

    The first phase of the Castle Acres brewery opened on 29 March, beginning the company’s transition back to Leicester-based brewing.

  • 1979

    Land acquired for Castle Acres

    [1]

    Everards acquired 54 hectares at Grove Farm Triangle for development of a new brewery.

  • 1978

    Old Original introduced

    [1]

    Everards introduced Old Original, a stronger traditional ale that became the company’s first beer advertised on television.

  • 1972

    Tiger introduced

    [1]

    The beer initially known as Best Bitter was introduced under the Tiger name, later becoming Everards’ signature brand.

Products and positioning

Independent, family-owned regional brewery offering Leicester-associated cask ales through a substantial tenanted-pub estate.

  • Cask bitter · 1972

    Tiger

    Tiger is Everards’ best-known beer. First produced in 1972, it was initially known as Best Bitter and was later renamed Tiger. The name reflects the company’s tiger identity and is associated with the nickname of the Leicestershire Regiment. At 4.2% alcohol by volume in the cited description, it occupies the central position in Everards’ traditional cask-ale range and has also supported the brewery’s association with Leicester sporting and regional culture.

  • Cask ale · 1970

    Beacon

    Beacon is a lighter Everards beer introduced in the early 1970s. It is named after Beacon Hill in Leicestershire and was positioned as a less substantial alternative to Tiger. The cited description gives it an alcoholic strength of 3.8% by volume. Its name and regional reference reinforce Everards’ practice of linking beer brands to Leicester and the surrounding county.

  • Old ale · 1978

    Old Original

    Old Original, formerly marketed as Original or Old Original at different points, is Everards’ stronger traditional ale. First produced in 1978, it is listed at 5.2% alcohol by volume in the cited material and was the first Everards beer promoted through television advertising. The brand represents the brewery’s more robust, heritage-oriented offering and was again being marketed under the Old Original name in the reference period.

  • Cask ale

    Sunchaser

    Sunchaser is one of Everards’ four core beers. The supplied reference identifies it as part of the main range but does not provide a detailed account of its recipe, launch date, or positioning. It forms part of the brewery’s offering alongside Tiger, Beacon, and Old Original.

  • Seasonal beer

    Seasonal ales

    Everards has supplemented its core range with rotating seasonal ales. Examples cited for the 2008–09 period include Equinox for September, Sleighbell for December, Pitch Black for February, and Sly Fox for March or April. These beers allowed the brewery to vary its offer through the calendar while retaining its cask-ale focus.

Marketing campaigns

  • 1999150th anniversary celebrations

    Leicestershire · United Kingdom

    Everards marked its 150th year with celebrations involving its pubs and a visit from Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The anniversary programme also included a Founders Day event at which Richard Everard received a bronze tiger sculpture by Mark Coreth.

    Outcome. The anniversary reinforced the company’s family history and Leicester identity.

    Source
  • 1950Everards Friendly Inns

    United Kingdom

    Tony Everard developed the Friendly Inns concept as a more domestic and welcoming pub format. The design was intended to resemble a customer’s front room and to broaden the appeal of pubs, including to women who had traditionally been less represented in pub audiences.

    Outcome. The concept was described as successful in attracting a broader clientele.

    Source

Brand decisions

  • 2002

    Conversion to a tenancy-only pub estateStrategy

    Background

    Everards operated a mixture of tenanted and managed houses and also had interests in pub-based hotels.

    Action taken

    The company decided to replace the mixed model with a tenancy-only portfolio, with new pubs replacing hotels in parts of the estate.

    Aftermath

    The estate reached a reported total of 165 pubs by 2005 and is described as exceeding 170 tenanted pubs in the cited reference.

    Source

  • 1997

    Return to private family ownershipStrategy

    Background

    Everards had operated as a public company since 1936, although the business remained associated with the Everard family.

    Action taken

    The company repurchased its remaining preference shares and became a private business again.

    Aftermath

    The move supported the company’s stated intention to remain an independent family enterprise.

    Source

  • 1985

    Opening of the Castle Acres breweryStrategy

    Background

    Everards had long maintained brewing operations in both Leicester and Burton-upon-Trent.

    Action taken

    The company opened the first phase of a new brewery at Grove Farm Triangle, later known as Castle Acres.

    Aftermath

    By 1990, the new facility was producing nearly 70,000 barrels and all Everards beer production had returned to Leicester.

    Source

Sources1 sources

  1. 1Everardsen.wikipedia.org

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