Our story began in 1849, when our founder William Everard joined forces with maltster Thomas Hull.
Together, they leased a small brewery on Southgate Street in Leicester.
They believed in one simple idea — to brew honest beer for honest people.
While others were chasing gold across the world, we were crafting ours in barley and hops.
As our beer found its following, our ambitions grew.
In 1862, we purchased our first pubs — places where our beer could bring people together.
By 1875, our brewery had outgrown its beginnings.
We built a new home on Southgate Street, designed by William’s nephew John Everard — a place that reflected who we were: proud, hardworking, and here to stay.
When Thomas Everard, William’s son, took over in 1892, our brewery reached new heights.
We expanded to Burton-upon-Trent, leasing the Bridge Brewery and later the Trent Brewery — the heart of British brewing, by 1901, we owned the site outright.
That same decade, in 1899, our family took full ownership of the business — ensuring we could remain independent, guided by our own values.
In 1925, Sir Lindsay Everard led our third generation.
He was a visionary — a pilot, a public servant, and a brewer with ambition.
He modernised our operations, and by 1931, brewing had fully moved to the Tiger Brewery, while our Southgate site became a packaging and distribution centre.
Through challenging times, our focus stayed the same: quality, innovation, and community.
After the war, our brewery found new life under Tony Everard in 1949.
We rebuilt, refreshed, and reimagined what brewing could be.
In 1950, we launched the Quarter Century Club, celebrating the people who dedicate their lives to our brewery — it still thrives with regular catch-ups between friends today.
By the 1960s, our pubs were evolving too, as we created Friendly Inns — warm, welcoming spaces where everyone belonged.
In 1972, we brewed something truly special — Tiger.
A bold, full-bodied ale that captured the spirit of Leicestershire.
It became our flagship beer and our proud connection to the Leicester Tigers Rugby Club.
That roar of pride has echoed through our pubs and Welford Road ever since.
In 1985, we opened our modern brewery at Castle Acres — built for a growing future.
A few years later, in 1988, Richard Everard became Chairman, representing our fifth generation of family leadership.
Under Richard, our brewery stayed independent and deeply rooted in the community.
We supported charities, championed local businesses, and built long-standing partnerships — including our work with Leicestershire Cares, Age UK Leicestershire, PROSTaid and Warning Zone, helping people across the region thrive.
