Batemans is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, showcasing the work of five generations of the Wainfleet, Lincolnshire-based brewing family.
Managing director Stuart Bateman, with his sons Ed and Harri
It all began with George Bateman in 1874. Stuart and Jaclyn Bateman are the present guardians of the Batemans brewing legacy, with Stuart and wife Rachael’s children, Harri and Ed, preparing to carry on the family tradition.
The company brews 10,000 hectolitres of beer each year, owns 52 community pubs, and has a flourishing free-trade network, operating across Lincolnshire, the East Midlands, and Norfolk.
It has not only survived Covid, two world wars, and the keg beer revolution, but also a family dispute and hostile approaches that very nearly saw the business broken up and sold.
Today, Batemans is thriving, thanks in part to its Survival, Revival, and Development plan, instigated in March 2020 in response to the pandemic-related lockdowns and trading conditions. This plan has brought to fruition new pub acquisitions, beer development, brewing collaborations, and a pub refurbishment programme.
The sesquicentennial year was also seen as an opportunity to evolve its branding, and indeed the most visual part of the business, the pumpclips, with the assistance of Staffordshire branding firm PHd design.
A strong, recognisable new branding has been created, which harks to past brewing traditions, retaining the slogan ‘Craft Brewers since 1874’, but positioning the brewery strongly for the next phase of growth. Batemans’ key four brands are the first to receive the new branding — XB, Triple XB, Yella Belly Gold, and the new Five Generations (5G), which will be released in a couple of months. The new branding will be available from mid-March.
Five Generations (4.2% ABV) is being brewed with only English hops — Harlequin, Fuggles, and Olicana —and local malts. The 150th anniversary celebrations will include the release of a limited edition bottled beer, Tradition With Ambition. This 7.8% ABV was brewed more than 10 years ago and has been maturing in bottle, ready for the anniversary. There is also a celebratory sparkling wine, 5G Blanquette de Limoux, which has been specially sourced from France, to add to the Batemans’ wine merchant’s, Ridlingtons, range.
Batemans’ new brewer, Buster Grant, is recommissioning the Victorian brewhouse, which has not been used for more than 20 years. It is planned that it will be used for collaboration brews with Blue Monkey and Buxton Brewery, each celebrating the 15th anniversary this year.
“Brewing is the backbone of our business, and we are looking forward to brewing new beers and collaborating with other breweries,” said managing director Stuart Bateman.
“We are exceptionally pleased with all we have achieved over the last 150 years, and look forward to celebrating our past, but also in taking this opportunity to shout about our new achievements, from our new and modern branding to our fresh approach, which will set Batemans on a solid footing for another 150 years.”
Celebrations started last Saturday with the brewery staff Christmas party, at which each member of staff was presented with a commemorative plate. Long Service awards were also presented, to 27 members of staff, who have an average of 30 years’ service each, the longest being 47 years.
Batemans’ marketing director, Jaclyn Bateman, said: “We are very proud of our past and looking forward to continuing our success. Tradition with Ambition perfectly sums up Batemans’ ethos and will be a theme running throughout our marketing this year.”
The celebrations will be in association with the charities LIVES and Derbyshire Miners Skegness Children’s Home.
