This web site updated 28th JULY 2010
Minutes of an Open Meeting held at Walsall Town Hall on 14
July 2010
Apologies were received from David Winnick, MP for Walsall North; Cllr John
O’Hare, Mayor of Walsall 2009/2010; Mr. Bob Norton, Ex Director of Highgate and Davenports
Brewery; Cllr Barbara McCracken, St Matthews Ward; Val Vaz, MP for Walsall South
(via rep from floor); Ray Arrowsmith, Walsall CAMRA/FoHB; Mick Young, FoHB; Les Guest,
FoHB
In attendance were; Steve Orford (FoHB, Chairman) Cllr Mohammed Arif, St Matthews
Ward; John Wilkes, Facebook campaigner; Tom Derby, Radio WM reporter; Gary Timmins,
CAMRA West Mid's Regional Director; Keith Watkins, Walsall CAMRA pubs preservation
officer; Trevor Jones, Walsall Civic Society; Lisa O’Brien, Wolverhampton Express
& Star.
Opening speech: Good Evening Ladies & Gents. On behalf of FoHB, Walsall CAMRA
and Walsall Civic Society Welcome to everyone thanks for turning up to give your
support.
Welcome I would like to introduce you to guest speakers Gary Timmins (CAMRA
West Mid’ Regional Director) Keith Watkins Walsall (Walsall CAMRA pubs preservation
officer) Trevor Jones (Walsall Civic Society), Cllr Mohamed Arif – (St Matthews Ward).
Thanks
to Cheryll Gilbert Walsall CAMRA who is taking minutes, Lisa O’ Brien (Wolverhampton
Express and Star), Tom Darby (Radio WM) and pass special thanks to Dr Carl Chinn
who has shown us support after our interview on his show last month.
A representative
from Empire Star/Global Star (brewery owners) was invited but has neither attended
nor sent apologies.
I would like to introduce myself, I am Steve Orford chairman
of ‘The Friends of Highgate’ which is voluntary organization formed in 1995 when
we supported a management buy out of the brewery from M&B,and have forged close links
with it ever since.
Our main purpose over the years has been to support the brewery
and its products and we did this in the beginning by doing practical work at the
brewery, (until our insurers told us we couldn’t) and by donating money on an annual
basis raised by our membership fees etc towards the upkeep and improvements to the
brewery site.
In fact the brewery gates which now sadly bar our way into the site
were donated by the Friends of Highgate to celebrate the breweries centenary in 1998.
We
also raise funds for local charities and organise social events for our members both
at the brewery and by holding socials and quizzes at local pubs which sell Highgate
beer whilst subsidising the Highgate beers available, to our members by a voucher
system.
On that note we also organised a petition to get Highgate Mild which was voted
CAMRA West Mid's Mild of the year in 2008 onto the 'available list' to publicans
after it was de-
As you can see the brewery is in our
blood and we were devastated when we were told that Highgate and Davenports Brewery
(who rented the brewery from Empire Star) went into administration on 14th June 2010,
for the second time in 9 months, making all brewery employees redundant.
Firstly
I would like to send them all my sincere commiserations and wish them luck for the
future.
The timing was particularly unfortunate for us, as after contacting the administrators,
who refused permission for us to use the visitors lounge for our open meeting that
evening, I had only two hours to rearrange the venue to the White Lion, Sandwell
St and contact as many of you as I could.
I was encouraged by the support given by
the large number of you that attended that meeting and hope this will continue throughout
the difficult months ahead.
Since then I have kept in regular
contact with Ian Robinson an accountant for Global Star who is liaising with the
brewery directors and administrators. He informed me that it is not the trading co
which is for sales but the whole brewery. Asking price of £1.6million which includes
the freehold, all the brewery buildings and equipment but not the pubs, the brand
names or the beer recipes. They have no current plans to sell the brewery to property
developers and they are hoping to sell it as a going concern but have had no offers
as yet. Any offers should be directed in the first instance to Ian Robinson and he
can be contacted at the brewery on 01922 644453 ext 202.
One month on and no firm
offers.
He has also confirmed that there is a short term contract for another brewer
to brew the full range of Highgate Davenports beers and their supply will continue
via Highgate Brewing co in Smethwick which is still operating.
We understand there
may be parties interested in buying the brewery if a price and terms are agreed and
other smaller brewers are possibly interested in renting space.
Bottling Line.
We look forward to welcoming Friends of Highgate to the opening of our new bottling facility, indeed the equipment is sitting in the yard ready to go! Unfortunately Walsall Council have had a substantial number of noise complaints even before we have struck a blow in anger. This has resulted in us having to carry out an environmental impact survey at a cost of £1,000 despite the fact that we haven’t yet made a sound. The decision as to whether we can install our equipment will be made on the 16th September – fingers crossed!
The bottling line will be good for Highgate both in improving the quality of it’s bottled beer (products will be sterile filtered rather than pasteurised) and generating income from contract work. At least three local breweries have expressed an interest in getting beer bottled at our site. Let us hope that Walsall Council see it that way.
Pub News.
The New Fullbrook has been leased from Admiral Taverns with an option to buy within
two years, which will be exercised. The pub will be re-
The Talk of The Town in Darlaston has also been acquired and this pub will also be refurbished, following which it will be renamed “The Why Not”, it’s name in a former life.
Talking of refurbishments, next time you visit the brewery you will notice that it is receiving a facelift. I am not yet sure about the black sills and magnolia window frames as it does give the building a slightly satanic look, but at least it is protected from the elements and looks smarter.
MINUTES 1