Ansells Brewery
Ansells Brewery was a historic Birmingham regional brewer whose beers became part of Allied Breweries after a 1961 merger.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Ansells Brewery was a regional English brewery founded at Aston Cross in Birmingham in 1858 by Joseph Ansell, a hop merchant and maltster. Built on a site supplied by artesian wells, the business developed from a family brewing operation into one of the principal brewers serving Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. Its local identity was reinforced by an estate of tied public houses and by a portfolio centered on traditional British beer styles, including mild, pale ale, and best bitter. The company expanded through both internal development and acquisition. Joseph Ansell’s sons William and Edward joined the business in 1867 and 1876 respectively. From 1877 it traded as Joseph Ansell and Sons, became Joseph Ansell & Sons Ltd in 1889, and was registered as Ansells Brewery Ltd in 1901. By that point the enterprise had substantial value and controlled hundreds of licensed houses. Further growth came through the acquisition of smaller regional brewers, including Rushtons in 1923, Lucas of Leamington in 1928, and Holt’s Brewery in 1934. Ansells later adopted Holt’s red squirrel emblem as a visual identifier for its beers. A major turning point came in 1961, when Ansells combined with Tetley Walker and Ind, Coope & Co to create Allied Breweries. Ansells entered the merger with a large managed-house estate concentrated in Birmingham and the West Midlands. It continued operating as a recognizable regional brewing business within the new group, but the economics of British brewing increasingly favored centralized production and rationalized brewery networks. The Aston brewery experienced repeated labor disputes during the 1960s and 1970s. By the end of the 1970s it was under pressure to improve profitability. In 1981, management proposed a four-day working week as a cost-saving measure, prompting further industrial action. Allied Breweries then closed the Aston site, resulting in the loss of approximately 700 jobs, while around 300 employees were redeployed elsewhere in the group. Brewing was transferred to Allied’s Burton upon Trent operation, and the Aston brewery was subsequently demolished. The Ansells name survived the closure as a beer brand rather than as an independent brewery. Later production arrangements associated Ansells Mild and Best Bitter with Allied’s successor, Carlsberg, with brewing undertaken by JW Lees according to the cited reference material. Cask-conditioned Ansells Mild was discontinued in 2012. The former brewery site is now used for other commercial purposes, while some former employees established Aston Manor Brewery, linking Ansells’ industrial legacy to Birmingham’s later brewing history. Ansells also had a visible promotional role through football-shirt sponsorships, including Birmingham City between 1983 and 1985 and Stoke City in the early 1990s.
History
Ansells Brewery began in 1858 at Aston Cross, Aston, Birmingham, where Joseph Ansell established a brewery on a site served by several artesian wells. Ansell had worked as a hop merchant and maltster, and the new business benefited from its position close to Birmingham’s expanding urban market. His son William entered the partnership in 1867, followed by his son Edward in 1876. From 1877 the enterprise used the name Joseph Ansell and Sons; it became Joseph Ansell & Sons Ltd in 1889 and was registered as Ansells Brewery Ltd in June 1901. The company’s growth was closely tied to the tied-house system. At the beginning of the twentieth century it was valued at more than £750,000 and included 388 licensed houses. Ansells expanded its regional reach by purchasing smaller brewers and their pub estates. Rushtons, with approximately 100 licensed houses, was acquired in 1923. Lucas of Leamington, associated with 124 houses, followed in 1928, and Holt’s Brewery, with about 250 houses, was acquired in 1934. Holt’s red squirrel logo was later used by Ansells as a symbol on its own beers. Ansells produced beers for the Birmingham and West Midlands market, with traditional styles such as mild, pale ale, and bitter forming the core of its identity. In 1961 it merged with Tetley Walker and Ind, Coope & Co to create Allied Breweries. Ansells reportedly brought an estate of 1,088 mainly managed houses in Birmingham and the West Midlands into the new organization. The merger reflected the broader consolidation of British brewing, in which regional brewers increasingly became divisions or brands within larger groups. The Aston operation remained active for two further decades but faced recurring labor disputes during the 1960s and 1970s. By the late 1970s the brewery was struggling to remain profitable. Management’s 1981 proposal for a four-day working week led to strike action. Allied Breweries subsequently closed the Aston brewery, eliminating about 700 jobs while transferring roughly 300 employees to other positions in the company. Brewing was moved to Allied’s Burton upon Trent brewery, and the Aston site was eventually demolished; a car showroom later occupied the location. The brewery therefore ended as a physical production site in 1981, but the Ansells name continued in beer branding. Reference material states that Ansells Mild and Ansells Best Bitter were later produced for Allied’s successor, Carlsberg, by JW Lees. Cask-conditioned Ansells Mild was discontinued in 2012. The precise status of every Ansells product and the full chronology of later licensing or brewing arrangements are not established by the available material. Ansells’ legacy also continued through local memory, football sponsorships, and the Aston Manor Brewery founded by some former employees.
- 2012
Cask-conditioned Ansells Mild discontinued
[1]The cask-conditioned form of Ansells Mild was reported as discontinued.
- 1981
Aston brewery closes
[1]Allied Breweries closed the Aston site after labor disputes and profitability concerns, transferring production to Burton upon Trent.
- 1961
Merger creates Allied Breweries
[1]Ansells merged with Tetley Walker and Ind, Coope & Co to form Allied Breweries.
- 1934
Holt’s Brewery acquired
[1]Ansells acquired Holt’s Brewery and later adopted its red squirrel device for Ansells beers.
- 1928
Lucas of Leamington acquired
[1]The acquisition of Lucas of Leamington added a reported 124 licensed houses.
- 1923
Rushtons acquired
[1]Ansells acquired Rushtons and its reported estate of approximately 100 licensed houses.
- 1901
Ansells Brewery Ltd registered
[1]The company was registered as Ansells Brewery Ltd and had developed a substantial licensed-house estate.
- 1889
Incorporation as Joseph Ansell & Sons Ltd
[1]The business became a limited liability company under the Joseph Ansell & Sons name.
- 1877
Business adopts the Joseph Ansell and Sons name
[1]The company began trading as Joseph Ansell and Sons.
- 1876
Edward Ansell joins the partnership
[1]Joseph Ansell’s son Edward joined the family enterprise.
Products and positioning
A traditional Birmingham and West Midlands regional beer brand associated with tied pubs, mild ale, bitter, and local industrial heritage.
Mild ale
Ansells Mild
A traditional mild associated with Ansells’ Birmingham and West Midlands brewing heritage. The beer continued as a branded product after physical brewing at Aston ended, with later production reported for Allied’s successor by JW Lees. Its cask-conditioned version was discontinued in 2012.
English bitter
Ansells Best Bitter
A best bitter sold under the Ansells name and associated with the brewery’s traditional pub-centered regional portfolio. Reference material reports later production for Allied’s successor Carlsberg by JW Lees, but does not establish a complete current availability history.
Pale ale
Ansells Pale Ale
Pale ale was among the traditional British beer categories associated with Ansells. The available reference material does not document a complete product chronology, recipe history, or final commercial status for every pale-ale product sold under the brand.
Marketing campaigns
- 1990Stoke City kit sponsorship
United Kingdom
Ansells sponsored Stoke City’s kit in the early 1990s, extending its football marketing beyond the Birmingham area.
Outcome. The cited material describes the sponsorship as an early-1990s activity but does not specify its exact end date.
- 1983Birmingham City shirt sponsorship
United Kingdom
Ansells sponsored Birmingham City’s football shirt from 1983 to 1985, connecting the beer brand with its home city and regional audience.
Outcome. The sponsorship ended after the 1983–1985 period.
Brand decisions
2012
Discontinue cask-conditioned Ansells MildOtherBackground
The physical Aston brewery had already closed, and Ansells products were being made through later production arrangements.
Action taken
The cask-conditioned version of Ansells Mild was discontinued.
Aftermath
The cited source does not establish the complete status of all remaining Ansells-branded products.
1981
Close the Aston brewery and centralize productionStrategyBackground
The Aston operation was struggling to remain profitable, and management sought labor-cost savings through a proposed four-day working week.
Action taken
After strike action, Allied Breweries closed the Birmingham brewery and transferred production to its Burton upon Trent brewery.
Aftermath
Approximately 700 jobs were lost, around 300 employees were redeployed, and the Aston site was later demolished.
1961
Join the Allied Breweries mergerM&ABackground
British brewing was undergoing substantial consolidation, and Ansells was a sizeable regional brewer with a large managed-house estate.
Action taken
Ansells merged with Tetley Walker and Ind, Coope & Co to create Allied Breweries.
Aftermath
Ansells continued within the Allied structure rather than operating as an independent brewing group.
Sources1 sources
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