When we heard that Jennings Brewery had new owners and was going to start making beers again, we made some calls and arranged an interview with Chris France, the company’s new MD.
The Cockermouth-based brewery, which closed in 2022, was purchased for an undisclosed sum by two local business owners, Kurt and Rebecca Canfield.
I started by congratulating Chris on his appointment, but asked if this was a good time to be launching a brewery business, given the economic pressures being faced by the on-trade.
Chris explained that he is very excited to be involved with the brewery, especially given his passion for the industry, having previously launched an online beer retailer called Beer Hawk.
He said that it was far more important to have passion and energy for the business, rather than worrying about the state of the economy.
Part of the attraction of the new role was the history of the company and its listed site, which dates back to 1827, and he is very much looking forward to celebrating the brewery’s bi-centenary in 2027.
Chris, who grew up in the Lake District, is also delighted to be back on home territory and this was also a factor in taking accepting the job.
I was interested to find out what the locals in Cockermouth, the home of the company, felt about the rebirth of Jennings, which was producing some of the finest beers in the country.
Chris explained that the response of the locals had been overwhelmingly positive and that he has already been approached by former employees who are keen to offer advice about the company, especially former brewers offering tips for creating the perfect pint.
Although the brewery closed in 2022, the demise of the company had been long and slow, starting in 2005 when the family business was acquired by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries (W&DB).
In May 2020, Marston’s Plc (W&DB was renamed in 2007) announced that it would merge its brewing operations with Carlsberg UK, to become Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC).
It was in September 2022 that CMBC announced the closure of the Jennings Brewery, with Jennings Cumberland Cask ale and bottled beer brands being produced at Marston’s Brewery, in Burton-on-Trent, until March 2025.
The Listed five-storey building, which had latterly become a distribution centre for Carlsberg Marston’s, is derelict in parts, but Chris sees massive potential, including the opportunity to create a museum to celebrate nearly two centuries of brewing expertise.
Although the company is currently looking to recruit a head brewer, and not yet brewing, I asked Chris what scale the brewery would be initially operating at.
I was told that their plans are to start brewing smaller batches of high quality beer and will start with two of Jennings’ popular beers: Cumberland and Jennings Bitter, but the new owners know that their customers will also want to see Sneck Lifter and Cocker Hoop, a lighter 3.5% ABV pale ale, to quickly join the line-up.
Chris also explained that whoever does get the job of head brewer will have access to a massive back catalogue of recipes to explore, some of them dating back to the early years of the brewery. He also told me that they are also going to re-connect a freshwater well that will provide the brewery with its own supply of spring water.
To my question about the timeframe for the business, Chris explained that there are plans to start brewing by the summer and also open the taproom.
With just three people employed at the moment there’s a list as long as your pint-pulling arm to tick off before the brewery can start producing beers, but with energy, passion and dedication, and with the support of the people of Cockermouth, this business is quickly going to go from strength to strength
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