Topic ID 3024
Does anyone know what the local dark horse brewery is? or it may have been black horse brewery, can't rmemeber! Thanks, Dan
Reply ID 43509
It was in Adams Yard; between Woolworths and the Co-op. Now derelict. Was subject to planning approval but now withdrawn.
Reply ID 43514
I think it was owned by the owners of The White Horse pub when it was a free house.
Reply ID 43528
Did it relocate to another part of Herts??? No room to expand?? Mr Steve??? Admin remember???
Reply ID 43529
Went into voluntary liquidation during February 2002.
Reply ID 43531
quote:Isn't that what most brewers do anyway?[:D] They did buy the White Horse but spent more time as I remember at the Woodman in Chapmore End.
Went into voluntary liquidation during February 2002.
Reply ID 43535
quote:I thought that before its demise, the Dark Horse Brewery relocated to The Assizes in Bancroft, Hitchin - now the Sunrunner freehouse, owned by ex White Horse people. (I'm not sure about any of this and might have got very muddled. [:I]) The Fledgling and Firkin (now The Blackbirds) brewed its own beer for a short time. I think the only brewery in Hertford now (apart from Macs) is Red Squirrel on the Mimram Road industrial estate.
Originally posted by Drama Queen
Did it relocate to another part of Herts???
Reply ID 43543
quote:
Originally posted by Rachelquote:I thought that before its demise, the Dark Horse Brewery relocated to The Assizes in Bancroft, Hitchin - now the Sunrunner freehouse, owned by ex White Horse people. (I'm not sure about any of this and might have got very muddled. [:I]) The Fledgling and Firkin (now The Blackbirds) brewed its own beer for a short time. I think the only brewery in Hertford now (apart from Macs) is Red Squirrel on the Mimram Road industrial estate.
Originally posted by Drama Queen
Did it relocate to another part of Herts???
Reply ID 43551
The Dark Horse Brewery started life in the (brand newly installed) cellar of the White Horse in the (mid??) 90s (other could help me out on the dates here) I do remember the opening ceremony being attended by the then lady Mayor of Hertford who after a couple of half’s had to be helped down the rather steep stairs from the upstairs of the pub by her escourt. It was the brainchild of the then owner Ian Harvey (helped by the legendary Rob Jones of Dark Star Brewery fame - Evening Star , Brighton for those that know it) & produced such beers as Dark Horse Bitter, Sunrunner, Pale Rider(??) etc served in the WH. The brewery was at first a success & moved out of the cellar into Adam’s Yard a couple of years later. It was sold in the free trade & at the Horse’s then sister pub The Sunrunner in Hitchin (now, I believe run by Mr Harvey's ex-wife)& some time later was sold to a local businessman, not long before the Horse itself was sold to Fullers. The Microbrewery fell on hard times – I believe at one point it moved out to Datchworth. Then as Steve says, liquidation.
Reply ID 43557
And I recall that, all these years later, the said Rob Jones , was involved in a recent cricket match involving the OX .. and the very much alive & kicking, Red Squirrel Hertford Brewery…
Reply ID 43623
quote:Have to agree Rob Jones and the Dark Star Brewery (though in Ansty rather than Brighton nowadays) will remain legends for some time to come. However, are not the people formerly involved in the shenanigans at the White Horse now not the very same as those involved with "The Office". I would love to be proved wrong but......
Originally posted by Capitalist piglet
And I recall that, all these years later, the said Rob Jones , was involved in a recent cricket match involving the OX .. and the very much alive & kicking, Red Squirrel Hertford Brewery…
Reply ID 43629
quote:First`the "people" now at the WH(i.e. Nigel & Fullers) are not in any way, shape or form connected to the "shenanigans" (good word & quite descriptive)now or in the past. As for your other connection Aelle - I could'nt possibly comment.........[:D] Sorry, did someone just mention gyms & gravel extraction?? Apologies , distracted....
Originally posted by Aellequote:Have to agree Rob Jones and the Dark Star Brewery (though in Ansty rather than Brighton nowadays) will remain legends for some time to come. However, are not the people formerly involved in the shenanigans at the White Horse now not the very same as those involved with "The Office". I would love to be proved wrong but......
Originally posted by Capitalist piglet
And I recall that, all these years later, the said Rob Jones , was involved in a recent cricket match involving the OX .. and the very much alive & kicking, Red Squirrel Hertford Brewery…
Reply ID 43637
Sorry CP, I never meant to suggest that Nigel and Fullers were involved in the 'shenanigans'as I know full well that they weren't.
Reply ID 43643
Aelle - no prob - IMHO you are very perceptive & descriptive with the bulk of your post !!
Reply ID 43654
Dark Horse was bought with the expectation that it's main outlet (White Horse) would remain as such whilst the business expanded it's markets elsewhere. Because the White Horse was unexpectedly and simultaneousy sold to Fullers, Dark horse was left in a precarious position. Naively perhaps, the new owner of DHB had expected to be given first refusal. Despite investment in trying to establish it's own outlets and voluntary working by senior staff, DHB never really recovered from the initial loss of it's core business. There were some innovative and exceptional recipes in it's latter years, including a fully brewed "live" lager and a low gravity lunchtime bitter.