The end of Hey’s Ales

September 2016 marked fifty years since J. Hey & Co. Ltd; Northbrook Brewery, Wilson Square, Lumb Lane, Bradford, was acquired by S. Webster & Sons Ltd; Fountain Head Brewery, Ovenden Wood, Halifax. The two companies had been on friendly terms for many years. Both sets of directors met on a regular basis for lunch at Webster’s Raggalds Inn, near Queensbury. In view of the prevailing climate in the brewing industry, of merger and take-overs it was felt the time was right for a “merger” between both firms.

The local press reported the deal on the 14th of September 1966. Websters offered about £1.4 million of shares and loan stock for Heys ordinary and preference capital. Holders of every 100 ordinary £1 shares were offered 50 ordinary Webster’s shares plus £120 of Webster’s 8% convertible loan stock, convertible in 1969 to twenty Webster’s ordinary shares. There were 291,018 Hey’s ordinary shares in issue; the terms valued them at 90 shillings each. Holders of every 100 Hey £1 5% preference shares offered £100 of Webster’s 7% unsecured loan stock. There was £75,000 Hey preference capital in issue. Members of the Hey family owned just over 50% of Hey’s ordinary capital.

The terms were accepted by over 90% of Hey’s shareholders. Walter Hey joined Webster’s board as President; he was also chairman of Yorkshire Brewer’s Association. Webster’s gained seventy-three houses. By 17th February 1967 Hey’s ales were no longer being produced and Webster’s beers were available in all Hey’s houses.

BREWERY HISTORY, PUB & BREWERY NEWS FROM CITY OF BRADFORD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

BREWERY HISTORY, PUB & BREWERY NEWS FROM CITY OF BRADFORD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

Malcolm Toft’s Real Beer News

Malcolm Toft’s Real Beer News

FROM SILSDEN, YORKSHIRE, TO THE WORLD - UPDATED 18.35 GMT 4/2/2019

Kathryn Hey at the National Brewery Centre, Burton Upon Trent, photographed next to a Hey’s Victory Ale plaque. Hey’s Brewery usually had plaques placed either side of the main entrance to their public houses. Various combinations of Gold Cup Ale, Victory Ale and House of Hey’s slate plaques were used

Kathryn Hey discovered that she was related to the brewing family and decided to have a beer brewed that commemorated the former Bradford brewery. In 2016 Hey’s Gold was brewed to mark fifty years since the Bradford brewery, J. Hey & Co. Ltd; was acquired by S. Webster & Son Ltd. That was in September 1966 and the brewery closed early in the next year. The Bradford company produced championship winning ales.

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 Hey’s Brewery windows at the

Airedale Heifer & Willow Tree Inn

Read about Hey’s Fleece Inn, Stone Street, off Manor Row, Bradford

Wm Whitaker Bi-Centenary glass

Brewing of Hey’s Ales returned to the City of Bradford

Hey’s Gold Premium was first brewed by the Bradford Brewery for Kathryn Hey on Tuesday 14th of November 2017.

The beer, ABV 4.5%, was launched at the Exchange Ale House, Market Street, Bradford, on Friday 1st December.

Dave Sanders devised the recipe and Bradford Brewery’s Head Brewer Graeme Rothery perfected the brew. Jake Bartlett-Perry carried on the good work until the Bradford Brewery ceased brewing in August 2018. Fuggles, East Kent Goldings and Czech Saaz hops were used in the brew. Pale malt and a small proportion of Caramalt provided the body of the beer.

Eyes Brewing have now acquired the Bradford Brewery premises and when their new brewing plant is installed they will brew Hey’s Gold Premium.

Spinks Bar, Market Street, Bradford, in the 1960s. Now the Exchange Ale House

Pictured are the hops which went into the first batch of Hey’s Gold Premium.

The King’s Head, Westgate, Bradford, about 1966. Unfortunately the fine glasswork in the first floor windows hasn’t survived.

House of Hey’s wall plaque, Jubilee Refreshment Rooms, Sowerby Bridge Railway Station, part of Andrew Wright’s collection. Picture by Mark Mortimer