Mitchells & Butlers Brewery
A historic Birmingham-area brewery whose best-known beer was Brew XI.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Mitchells & Butlers Brewery was a historic English brewing business associated with Cape Hill in Smethwick and with the industrial brewing tradition of the West Midlands. The company was created in 1898 through the merger of Henry Mitchell's Crown Brewery and William Butler's Brewery, both of which had been established in Smethwick in 1866. Henry Mitchell had moved to the Cape Hill site in 1879, and that location subsequently became the enterprise's principal brewing centre. The Cape Hill brewery developed as a substantial industrial complex. It operated its own railway network and obtained a connection to the national railway system in 1907 through the Harborne line. That connection remained in use until 1962, reflecting the importance of rail logistics to the movement of brewing materials and finished beer. The company also had a connection with local football through its support of Birmingham St George's F.C., a club that competed in the Football Alliance and won the Staffordshire Senior Cup twice before disbanding in 1892. Mitchells & Butlers expanded through acquisitions and corporate combinations. Holder's Brewers, which owned Birmingham's Midland Brewery, became part of the business in 1919. The Highgate & Walsall Brewery was acquired in 1939. A separate brewery opened in 1874 by another William Butler, at Springfield in Wolverhampton, also joined the Mitchells & Butlers group in 1960. Brewing at Springfield ended in 1990, and the site closed the following year. After a major fire in 2004, the former site was redeveloped as part of the University of Wolverhampton campus, with some historic structures retained. The most significant corporate turning point came in 1961, when Mitchells & Butlers merged with Bass. The brewery later came under the ownership of Coors Brewers. Cape Hill ceased brewing operations in 2002, with production transferred to Burton upon Trent. The Cape Hill buildings were demolished in 2005 and the land was subsequently redeveloped for housing, although the Mitchell & Butler war memorial erected in 1920 was retained and restored. The brewery's most famous beer was Brew XI, its name using Roman numerals and traditionally pronounced “Brew Eleven.” It was promoted with the slogan “for the men of the Midlands,” linking the product closely to regional identity and working-class industrial culture. Following the closure of Cape Hill, Brew XI continued to be brewed under licence for Coors by Brains of Cardiff. The brewery itself is therefore a defunct historical brewing entity, while the Mitchells & Butlers name survives through a descendant business operating pubs, bars, and restaurants across the United Kingdom from Birmingham.
History
Mitchells & Butlers Brewery emerged from the consolidation of two Smethwick brewing businesses. Henry Mitchell's Crown Brewery had been founded in 1866, while William Butler's Brewery was established in the same year. The two businesses merged in 1898. Mitchell had moved to the Cape Hill site in 1879, and Cape Hill became the principal location associated with the combined company. Cape Hill was developed as an integrated industrial brewery with its own railway facilities. From 1907 until 1962, the site was connected to the national railway network through the Harborne line. This infrastructure supported the movement of raw materials and beer during a period when rail transport was central to large-scale British brewing. The company also maintained a sporting association with Birmingham St George's F.C., which had competed in the Football Alliance and won the Staffordshire Senior Cup twice before its dissolution in 1892. Expansion continued through a series of acquisitions. Holder's Brewers, owner of Birmingham's Midland Brewery, joined the business in 1919. The Highgate & Walsall Brewery followed in 1939. In 1960, a different brewery founded by William Butler at Springfield in Wolverhampton also became part of Mitchells & Butlers. Brewing at Springfield ended in 1990, the site closed in 1991, and the former brewery was later damaged by fire in 2004. It was subsequently incorporated into the University of Wolverhampton campus, with selected original features, including an ornate entrance arch, retained. The company merged with Bass in 1961. In a later phase of corporate ownership, the Mitchells & Butlers brewing interests came under Coors Brewers. Cape Hill finally stopped brewing in 2002, with production moved to Burton upon Trent. The physical brewery was demolished in 2005, although the Mitchell & Butler war memorial from 1920 survived and was restored. Brew XI was the brewery's most prominent beer. Its name was written with Roman numerals and pronounced “Brew Eleven.” Marketing used the slogan “for the men of the Midlands,” presenting the beer as a product rooted in the region's industrial and social culture. After the closure of Cape Hill, Brew XI was brewed under licence for Coors by Brains of Cardiff. The brewing operation should be distinguished from the later Mitchells & Butlers business. That descendant company retains the name and operates pubs, bars, and restaurants throughout the United Kingdom, with its base in Birmingham. The brewery described here, however, is a historical production business whose principal site no longer operates as a brewery.
- 2005
Cape Hill site demolished
[1]The former Cape Hill brewery was demolished and the site was later redeveloped for housing.
- 2002
Cape Hill brewing ends
[1]The Cape Hill brewery closed under Coors Brewers ownership, with production transferred to Burton upon Trent.
- 1990
Brewing ends at Springfield
[1]Brewing at the Wolverhampton Springfield site ceased.
- 1961
Merger with Bass
[1]Mitchells & Butlers merged with Bass, placing the brewery within a larger brewing group.
- 1960
Springfield brewery joins Mitchells & Butlers
[1]The separate William Butler brewery at Springfield in Wolverhampton was incorporated into the business.
- 1939
Highgate & Walsall Brewery acquired
[1]The Highgate & Walsall Brewery became part of the Mitchells & Butlers business.
- 1919
Holder's Brewers joins the business
[1]Holder's Brewers, which owned Birmingham's Midland Brewery, became part of Mitchells & Butlers.
- 1907
Cape Hill gains a railway connection
[1]The Cape Hill brewery was connected to the national railway system through the Harborne line.
- 1898
Mitchells & Butlers is formed
[1]The Crown Brewery and William Butler's Brewery merged to create Mitchells & Butlers Brewery.
- 1879
Henry Mitchell moves to Cape Hill
[1]Henry Mitchell moved his brewing operation to Cape Hill, which later became the main site of Mitchells & Butlers.
Products and positioning
A regional West Midlands brewery built around industrial-scale production, local identity, and a broad brewing and pub-business heritage.
Beer
Brew XI
Brew XI was Mitchells & Butlers Brewery's best-known beer. The name used Roman numerals and was pronounced “Brew Eleven.” Its advertising slogan, “for the men of the Midlands,” positioned it as a strongly regional beer associated with the West Midlands' industrial identity. Following the closure of Cape Hill, the beer continued to be produced under licence for Coors by Brains of Cardiff.
Marketing campaigns
- Brew XI regional advertising
West Midlands · United Kingdom
Brew XI was promoted with the slogan “for the men of the Midlands,” using regional identity as the central theme of the brand's advertising.
Outcome. The campaign became closely associated with Brew XI's reputation as Mitchells & Butlers' signature beer.
Brand decisions
2002
Transfer of production from Cape HillStrategyBackground
The Cape Hill brewery was operating under Coors Brewers ownership, and the historic Smethwick site was no longer retained as a brewing centre.
Action taken
Brewing at Cape Hill was ended and production was transferred to Burton upon Trent.
Aftermath
The Cape Hill site was demolished in 2005 and later redeveloped for housing, while Brew XI continued under licensed production.
1961
Merger with BassM&ABackground
Mitchells & Butlers became part of a larger brewing organization through a merger with Bass.
Action taken
The two brewing businesses were merged.
Aftermath
The brewery later operated under Coors Brewers ownership, and its Cape Hill production was eventually closed.
Sources1 sources
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