Silver Spring Soft Drinks
Defunct British soft-drinks manufacturer from Folkestone, Kent, known for Perfectly Clear, Rola Cola, Spring Up and supermarket own-label beverages.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Silver Spring Soft Drinks was a British soft-drinks manufacturer based in Folkestone, Kent. The business operated for more than a century under the Silver Spring Mineral Water Company name and later under Silver Spring Soft Drinks, producing carbonated drinks, flavoured mineral water, cola, lemonade, regional specialities and supermarket own-label products. Its products were particularly familiar in Kent, although several lines achieved nationwide distribution. The company’s origins date to the late nineteenth century. It was established as a company in 1886 and began operating as a carbonated soft-drinks manufacturer in Folkestone in 1888. Its first premises were at Grace Hill, but growth during the 1890s led to a move to larger facilities on Foord Road. Silver Spring expanded partly through consolidation of other regional producers. In 1946 it acquired and merged with Harris of Hythe, and in 1969 it took over Star Mineral of Whitstable. In 1970 the business moved to a new factory on the Park Farm Estate. During the 1970s, Silver Spring developed the Rola Cola and Spring Up brands. Spring Up became the distinctive name associated with its lemonade, while Rola Cola gave the company a branded cola offering. The company also manufactured more generic soft-drink categories, including cola, lemonade and mineral-water products. A notable part of its operating model was vertical manufacturing: Silver Spring made its own glass and plastic bottles and was described as retaining the United Kingdom’s last glass drinks-bottle manufacturing plant. Silver Spring was an early participant in the development of large-format plastic packaging in Britain. In 1982 it became the first British company reported to have begun production of two-litre polyethylene terephthalate bottles. Soon afterward it started manufacturing own-label drinks for supermarket chains, adding contract and private-label production to its branded portfolio. This gave the company access to supermarket distribution while preserving a strong regional identity. Its most commercially significant launch was Perfectly Clear, a range of flavoured mineral water introduced on 6 May 1995. Within two years, Perfectly Clear was reported to have become the United Kingdom’s fourth best-selling carbonated drink. The wider business was reported in 2008 to be producing more than 250 million bottles annually. Other products included the Kent-associated soft drink Bing, which was regarded as a distinctive local speciality, as well as bottled mineral water and supermarket own-label ranges. In 2007, Silver Spring also took over production of Virgin Cola. Despite the success of Perfectly Clear and its high production volumes, the family-owned business entered administration on 16 September 2009, with Deloitte appointed in connection with the process. Its assets were purchased by the venture-capital firm Privet Capital, and the business was renamed Silver Spring Soft Drinks Company Ltd. The successor continued selling Silver Spring products, but it entered administration in October 2012. Production stopped in December 2012, and the company was finally wound up in early 2013. The former brands were acquired by CBL Drinks in 2013. Silver Spring is therefore best understood as a defunct regional British drinks manufacturer whose legacy combines local distribution in Kent, early adoption of PET packaging, supermarket own-label production and the nationally recognized Perfectly Clear brand. The available reference material does not establish the present ownership or continued commercial status of every former product name.
History
Silver Spring’s roots lie in the late nineteenth-century soft-drinks trade in Folkestone, Kent. The company was established in 1886 and is described as having begun carbonated-drinks manufacturing in 1888. It initially operated from Grace Hill. By the end of the 1890s, increasing activity required a move to larger premises on Foord Road. The business grew through both organic development and regional consolidation. In 1946 it acquired and merged with Harris of Hythe, another local drinks producer. In 1969 it absorbed Star Mineral of Whitstable, extending its position across the Kent market. A further relocation followed in 1970, when Silver Spring moved to a purpose-built or larger facility on the Park Farm Estate in Folkestone. The company broadened its branded range during the 1970s with the creation of Rola Cola and Spring Up. The latter became the product name associated with its lemonade, while Rola Cola provided a locally produced cola alternative. Silver Spring also maintained a broad catalogue of conventional soft drinks and mineral-water products, many of which were sold regionally. One particularly local product was Bing, a soft drink strongly associated with Kent. Packaging and manufacturing capability were important parts of Silver Spring’s identity. In 1982 the company became the first in Great Britain reported to have begun producing two-litre PET bottles. It subsequently entered supermarket own-label production, manufacturing beverages for retail chains in addition to selling its own brands. The company retained an unusual degree of control over packaging, making both glass and plastic bottles. It was reported to operate the United Kingdom’s last glass drinks-bottle manufacturing plant, a legacy feature that distinguished it from many larger, more standardized producers. On 6 May 1995, Silver Spring launched Perfectly Clear, a flavoured mineral-water range. The brand became the company’s key growth product and was reported to have reached fourth place among the United Kingdom’s best-selling carbonated drinks within two years. Silver Spring’s distribution remained especially strong in Kent, but Perfectly Clear and selected other products were distributed nationally. By 2008, the business was reported to be producing over 250 million bottles of drinks each year. In 2007 it also took over production of Virgin Cola. The company’s financial and ownership position deteriorated despite this operating scale. The family-owned business entered administration on 16 September 2009, with Deloitte involved in the process. Privet Capital subsequently acquired its assets and renamed the operating entity Silver Spring Soft Drinks Company Ltd. The new company continued to sell Silver Spring products, but it was unable to sustain operations over the longer term. It entered administration in October 2012, stopped production in December 2012 and was finally wound up in early 2013. In 2013, CBL Drinks acquired the former Silver Spring brands. The original company therefore ended as an independent manufacturer, while some of its product names and brand assets passed to another drinks business. Silver Spring’s historical importance rests on its long regional presence, its mergers with Kent producers, early adoption of large PET bottles, supermarket own-label work, in-house bottle manufacturing and the success of Perfectly Clear.
- 2013
Brands acquired by CBL Drinks
[1]CBL Drinks acquired Silver Spring’s former brands after the company was wound up.
- 2012
Successor enters administration
[1]The successor company entered administration in October and ceased production in December.
- 2009
Administration and asset sale
[1]The family-owned company entered administration in September, after which Privet Capital acquired its assets and created the Silver Spring Soft Drinks Company Ltd entity.
- 2007
Virgin Cola production transferred
[1]Silver Spring took over production of Virgin Cola.
- 1995
Perfectly Clear launched
[1]The company introduced Perfectly Clear, a flavoured mineral-water range, on 6 May.
- 1982
Early British two-litre PET production
[1]Silver Spring became the first company in Great Britain reported to have started producing two-litre PET bottles.
- 1970
Move to Park Farm Estate
[1]Silver Spring moved its operations to a new facility on the Park Farm Estate in Folkestone.
- 1969
Star Mineral acquisition
[1]The company took over Star Mineral of Whitstable, strengthening its presence in the Kent soft-drinks market.
- 1946
Harris of Hythe merger
[1]Silver Spring acquired and merged with the Harris of Hythe company as part of regional consolidation.
- 1890
Move to Foord Road
[1]Growth during the late 1890s led the company to move from Grace Hill to larger premises on Foord Road.
Products and positioning
A regional British soft-drinks producer combining locally recognized branded beverages, nationwide flavoured-water distribution and supermarket own-label manufacturing. The company also emphasized its long Folkestone heritage and in-house bottle production.
Flavoured mineral water and carbonated soft drink · 1995
Perfectly Clear
Introduced in 1995, Perfectly Clear was Silver Spring’s best-known modern brand. It was positioned as a flavoured mineral-water range and achieved nationwide distribution. Reference material states that within two years it had become the United Kingdom’s fourth best-selling carbonated drink, making it the company’s principal commercial success.
Cola soft drink
Rola Cola
Rola Cola was one of the brands developed by Silver Spring during the 1970s. It formed part of the company’s branded carbonated-drinks portfolio and complemented its wider production of cola, lemonade, mineral water and supermarket own-label beverages.
Lemonade
Spring Up
Spring Up was Silver Spring’s distinctive product name for lemonade. It was developed during the company’s expansion of branded soft drinks in the 1970s and became one of the recognizable products associated with the Folkestone manufacturer.
Regional soft drink
Bing
Bing was a locally associated soft drink distributed particularly in Kent. It was described as unusual within Silver Spring’s range and became part of the company’s regional identity, reflecting its strong connection with local consumers and retailers.
Cola soft drink
Virgin Cola
Silver Spring took over production of Virgin Cola in 2007. The arrangement added manufacturing for an externally owned cola brand to Silver Spring’s own branded products and supermarket own-label work.
Private-label soft drinks
Supermarket own-label beverages
After adopting large PET packaging, Silver Spring began producing own-label beverages for supermarket chains. These products expanded the company beyond its consumer-facing brands and gave it a contract-manufacturing role in the British retail drinks market.
Brand decisions
2013
Transfer former brands to CBL DrinksM&ABackground
The successor Silver Spring company was wound up after production ended.
Action taken
CBL Drinks acquired the former Silver Spring brands.
Aftermath
The original Silver Spring manufacturing business remained defunct, while its brand assets passed to another drinks company.
2009
Sell assets to Privet CapitalM&ABackground
The family-owned company entered administration in September 2009 despite the reported success of Perfectly Clear.
Action taken
Privet Capital acquired the company’s assets and operated the business under the Silver Spring Soft Drinks Company Ltd name.
Aftermath
The successor continued production temporarily but entered administration in 2012 and ceased production later that year.
1995
Launch Perfectly ClearProduct launchBackground
Silver Spring sought to extend its branded portfolio beyond conventional cola, lemonade and mineral-water products.
Action taken
The company launched Perfectly Clear flavoured mineral water on 6 May 1995.
Aftermath
Perfectly Clear became the company’s most commercially prominent product and was reported to rank fourth among UK carbonated drinks within two years.
1982
Adopt two-litre PET bottle productionStrategyBackground
The company was developing larger-format packaging for the British soft-drinks market.
Action taken
Silver Spring began producing two-litre PET bottles and was reported to be the first British company to do so.
Aftermath
The packaging capability was followed by own-label production for supermarkets and became part of Silver Spring’s manufacturing profile.
Sources1 sources
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