Brewing History

Cockermouth Brewery

1828

John Jennings Snr began brewing beer in the pretty Lake District village of Lorton, between Keswick and Cockermouth. His father, William Jennings, had been a maltster by trade.

1874

Jennings relocated his brewery to its present location in the idyllic, historic market town of Cockermouth. The town gained its name from the Cockermouth Castle which sits on the point where the rivers Cocker and Derwent merge. The position of the brewery is significant as the distinctive taste of the beers is often credited to the pure Lakeland water which is drawn from the brewery's own well.

1887

The Jennings Brewery now owned 16 licensed outlets, all in its heartland of the Lake District.

2001

Jennings decides to exit all of its managed house operations and its business is based on two key strands; the brewing operations and an estate of over 100 high quality tenanted outlets.

2005

The Jennings Brewery became part of the Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries, a move which will help extend the distribution and appeal of the Jennings ale brands.

2007

Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries became Marston's PLC

"Jennings have been brewing traditional beers in Cumbria for over 170 years. We still use the same methods that were used by our founder as long ago as 1828 in the small Cumbrian village of Lorton"