Welcome to The Hook Norton Brewery

Want to be your own boss?

Ever dreamt of running your own pub in partnership with one of the country’s best brewers?
With the support of Hook Norton people can turn their dream into a reality.

Castle Inn EdgeHill pictured from the beer garden

Hook Norton Managing Director James Clarke said:
Each pub is different in size, location and style of business, from town centre to village green.

But what they have in common is the fact they are part of the Hook Norton Brewery family business.

“All are tenanted which means that investors have the opportunity to build their own business at the same time as having the support of a family-owned brewery that really cares about them.” Anyone interested in running one of Hook Norton Brewery’s pubs can find information, see available tenancies and download a application form on this web site - visit our tenants page.

Or contact the brewery on: 01608 737210


Brewery Visitors Centre

The Brewery Visitors centre is now open on Saturdays from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Brewery tours run Monday to Friday and lasts approximately 2 hours. All tours are followed by a sampling of our beer in the visitors centre. For our mature guests only.

Brewery Visitors centre inside view

Tours are available for educational parties and are free of charge. To book a tour or for more information please visit the brewery visitors page HERE.

Brewery History

The brewery at Hook Norton is rooted in an age when most towns and even large villages boasted their own brewery.

winter landscape image of the brewery dawn

Approach the village of Hook Norton from any direction and the first thing you see is the Church tower. The second is the flag waving proudly over the brewery. The Hook Norton Brewery was started over 150 years ago by farmer and maltster John Harris. Today it is run by his great great grandson James Clarke. John Harris' brewery has now achieved a reputation he could have never imagined and the beer it produces today is enjoyed not only in the UK but in many other countries.

Hook Norton Brewery sits on the North side of the Cotswold Hills, an area of rural lushness so pivotal to the ebb and flow of English history, the locals decided long ago that a good, fresh pint should always be within easy reach. A natural spring provided the ideal site for a brewery, and one thing led to another.

2 english Civil War Silders1849 was a milestone year. The young Queen Victoria ruled - the 35th monarch since William the Conqueror - the country had endured Magna Carta, the Wars of the Roses, The Reformation, Oliver Cromwell’s Parliamentarians, the Restoration of the Monarchy and was well into the Industrial Revolution when John Harris set up his brewery at Hook Norton. After Centuries of tempestuous history the locals were ready for a few beers. After a short while the sales of this fledgling brewery began to improve. And before long, the brewery John Harris started in a local farmhouse became the seed for the Hook Norton Brewery Company Ltd, and things evolved rapidly.

Picture of our steam engineHook Norton Brewery remains one of only 32 independent family-run breweries; and you won’t find a finer example of a Victorian tower brewery anywhere. It's also the only brewery still driven by steam. On the ground floor of the brewery is a fine 25 horsepower steam engine, supplying through a series of belts, cogs and shafts most of the motive power the brewery needs to produce it's beer .

Hook Norton is still "a real local brewery" and this is a rarity these days; awesome commercial pressures brought about change, but the brewers at Hook Norton became adept at keeping a restless World at arm’s length.

Brewery research shows most of us are more familiar with the drinking process than the skilled preparation that leads up to it. But every pint produced by Hook Norton brewery that you raise to your lips has a story to tell. Beer is very much a natural product; and the brewery puts a lot of effort into the whole brewing process to provide you with a refreshing pint. The traditional methods employed to make traditional beers, and that's what counts at Hook Norton.

The Shire Horse at Work in the Brewery

The shire horse drawn dray at Hook Norton ceased deliveries in 1950, but was revitalised in 1985, mainly for public relation purposes. The shire horses now only deliver locally within 5 miles of the brewery, but attend many public functions such as fetes, pub openings and on the odd occasion, weddings. It should be noted that out of all of the breweries that own horse drawn drays, only two still actually deliver their products by dray and shire horse. At present the Brewery has three shire horses (Consul, Major and Nelson), who are looked after by their two draymen Roger Hughes and Philip White.

Read More News

Steam Engine

Steam engine power is perhaps the most remarkable survivor at the brewery. The 25hp steam engine still drives much of the machinery used in the brewery, just as it has done for the past hundred years. Installed in 1899, it is believed to be the last steam engine in the country still in daily use for its original purpose.

Read More about steam engine

 

 

Summer Haze pump clip

The brewing team at Hook Norton have been busy. Drawing on 150 years of brewing heritage they have come up with a spectacular list of 11 seasonal beers for 2009, in addition to their regular brews.
Read More News

Double Stout pump clip

Welcome the New Year with Hooky’s Double Stout Hook Norton launches its first 2009 seasonal beer .
Read More News

image of Chas Finch 1932 - 2008

The Brewery’s staff are mourning the loss of Chas Finch who was landlord of the Elephant & Castle, Bloxham for 34 years.
Read More News

pub signs

New Tenancies

The Three Conies

The Reindeer

Castle inn

The Albion Tavern

The Butchers Arms

The Inn Greatworth

Chandlers arms

Events in our pubsRead More News

January guest beers
Old Speckled Hen pump clipOld Speckled Hen at 4.4 per cent ABV, is a smooth, malty beer, with fruit flavours and a short finish. It is rich and golden amber in colour with warm, red tones.


Suffolk County Best Bitter pump clipNethergate’s Suffolk County Best Bitter at 4.0 per cent, is a deep chestnut bitter with roast grain and malty tones and powerful hoppy notes.

CAMRA complimentry club