Coopers Tavern, an iconic institution in brewing capital Burton upon Trent, is getting ready to celebrate its 200th anniversary.
Coopers Tavern will celebrate its 200th anniversary on 28th October
The pub had origins as a malt store, owned by none other than William Bass. In the 1800s, it became the store for Bass Imperial Stout, where brewers would gather to sample the remarkable brew. Over time, it evolved into the brewer’s tap for Bass Brewery, and today it stands as testament to Burton’s brewing legacy.
The building is owned by Molson Coors, owner of Bass (although it sold the branding rights to AB InBev), but since a 2009 deal it has been operated by Joule’s Brewery. The deal was sealed with four pints of Bass and a toast raised to Joule’s, based in nearby Stone, in Staffordshire. A plaque on the wall of the William Bass Meeting room commemorates this significant moment in the pub’s history.
Bass and Joule’s have much in common, not least their trademarks. Bass’s red triangle is well known as the original trademark, but Joule’s famous red cross was registered in 1867 as the sixth oldest trademark in the world.
Despite the fierce rivalry with Bass Brewery, Joule’s beers consistently earned more medals and awards. However, in the 20th century, Bass managed to gain control of Joule’s. It eventually demolished the historic Joule’s Brewery in 1974, a move met with widespread protest and dismay from the local community.
Twenty years later, Steve Nuttall, now one of the Joule’s directors, approached Bass Brewers with a proposal to brew Joule’s as an independent beer once again. Bass chose instead to brew some of the old recipes at its brewery perhaps not realising the ill-feeling that still existed from their act of levelling the Stone brewery in 1974.
A later approach by Steve, in 2008, was received with more interest, with Bass having been broken up and sold piecemeal to international brewers AB InBev and Molson Coors. The Joule’s trademarks had fallen into the hands of Molson Coors.
That 2009 meeting in the Cooper’s Tavern not only gave the pub a new lease of life, it prompted the revival of Joule’s into the brewery it is today, once more in the beating heart of the Midlands, with a big pub estate, focused on historic buildings.
In 2017, Joule’s regained its full independence from Molson Coors, after a £500,000 settlement.
The Coopers Tavern 200th anniversary celebration will take place on Saturday, 28th October. The evening promises a blend of history, camaraderie, live music, and, of course, fantastic beer. As you walk through the doors of this iconic pub, you’ll be greeted by the warm ambiance and the delicious scent of homemade Scotch eggs, crafted by landlady Mandy.
