Malting and brewing had been undertaken in Cheltenham and the surrounding areas as a cottage industry, a manufacturing business carried out in people’s homes, since Medieval times. Before the invention and implementation of sewers and water treatment systems, drinking water was often contaminated and unsafe to drink. This made alcoholic drinks, even if only mildly alcoholic, the safer option. The first major commercial brewery was founded near the High Street in 1760 by Thomas Gardner, a local maltster and baker. It became known as Gardner’s Brewery, it was evidently very successful as the site was enlarged by 1818, and again in 1884. A fire at the brewery in 1887, which started in the hop room, burnt down a sizeable portion of the original building and machinery. It caused an estimated £50,000-£60,000 worth of damage (between £5-6million today). William Bradford and Sons rebuilt the complex to be more fireproof.

In April 1888 the business was registered as Cheltenham Original Brewing Co. Ltd., which gradually took over several other breweries in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire. The name changed to Cheltenham & Hereford Breweries in 1946, before being acquired by Cheltenham Brewery Holdings Ltd in 1956. The name changed again in 1961 when it became West Country Breweries Ltd. At that point, the brewery had 1275 tied houses, pubs which were owned and controlled by the brewery and were only allowed to sell their drinks. The brewery was acquired and renamed for a final time in 1963, when it was bought by Whitbread & Co. Ltd and became known as Whitbread Flowers Ltd.

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Brewery Complex

Brewing ceased at the site in 1998, although many Cheltonians can still recall the smell of the hops that was particularly pungent when travelling up the Lower High Street. The site was redeveloped, and although many of the buildings were demolished, several were incorporated into the new Brewery Quarter Complex. During the regeneration, several of the empty buildings were used to host art activities and pop-up exhibitions in collaboration with The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum. The site first re-opened in May 2006, undergoing a second major development and expansion in 2017. It is now an area filled with shops, restaurants, bars, leisure activities and even a gym. The site also regularly features live music performances and even has its own Christmas light switch on ceremony.

This regeneration of the old brewery buildings means that the site has been in almost continual use for more than 250 years, contributing to a major part of Cheltenham’s history, economy and identity.