breweries

When the words Luton and industry are mentioned people normally think of hats or Vauxhall Motors. However, until the latter part of the 20th century brewing was also a very important industry in the town although now defunct. There have been four large breweries in the town over the years: Burr’s Brewery in Park Street, the Crown and Anchor Brewery in New Bedford Road, the Phoenix Brewery in Park Street West and the Whitbread Brewery in Oakley Road.

The Oakley Road brewery was the last of these and must be one of the shortest-lived major breweries of the 20th century. Whitbread’s plan was to close all its smaller breweries around the country, acquired by numerous purchases of smaller, regional and local brewers, like Flowers and concentrate production in three huge breweries, of which Oakley Road was to be the first. The old Phoenix Brewery in park Street West was duly closed when the new brewery opened and was demolished in 1977. It had been built by Henry and Frederick Pearman in the 1850s and bought by John William Green in 1869. J.W.Green Limited, as it became, merged with Flowers Breweries in 1954, taking the latter’s name. Flowers had been taken over by Whitbread in 1962.

oakley rd

When Oakley Road opened in May 1969 News from Whitbreads stated [WB/W4/5/ORB7]: “The new Whitbread Brewery at Luton is the largest fully-automated brewery in Europe. The brainchild of Colonel W, H, Whitbread, Chairman of the Company, it is the first complete major brewery, capable of producing a variety of beers, to be built in Britain for over 30 years”.

MEMORIES 1950

FROM RAY HAMPSHIRE-

My dad’s horse Peter was a regular provider of horse manure!! Here is a photo of my dad driving his horse and cart up Market Hill in Luton, in about 1950. The manager of the Savoy cinema, in George Street, was lying in a bed on the cart! He was advertising the first showing of the film ‘The Big Sleep’ starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. My sister Hilda, wearing a headscarf, can be seen running behind the cart.I have fond memories of my dad taking myself and my siblings, to see ‘Midnight Movies’ at the Savoy. I clearly remember seeing the film ‘The Crimson Pirate’, starring Burt Lancaster! Myself and my siblings, 5 girls and my brother Stan, had a wonderful childhood, due completely to having wonderful parents.

WITH THANKS-