Theakston Brewery

The business was founded in 1827 by Robert Theakston and John Wood at the Black Bull pub and brewhouse in College Lane, Masham. By 1832, Theakston had sole ownership of the brewery and in 1875 he passed control over to his sons Thomas and Robert. They formed the T&R Theakston partnership and constructed a new brewery on Paradise Fields, near the original site. In 1919, the company acquired the Lightfoot Brewery, also in Masham, now home to The White Bear. The business grew in North Yorkshire and benefitted from renewed interest in cask ale in the 1960s. To meet growing demand T&R Theakston bought the UK Government owned Carlisle State Management Brewery. The transaction put financial strain…

Theakston has one of the last remaining full-time brewery coopers in the country. Euan Findlay makes oak casks for Old Peculier beer. A cooper’s apprenticeship lasts four years and is marked by a ‘Trussing-In’ ceremony on completion. Euan’s ceremony in October 2021 was the first held in over 20 years.