Griffin Brewery Chiswick
Fullers Griffin Brewery - Chiswick
Beer has been brewed in this corner of the capital for over 350 years, tracing its roots back to the days of Oliver Cromwell. At that time, it was common for large households to brew their beer. In the late 1600s, one such brewhouse sat in the gardens of Bedford House on Chiswick Mall. Nearby, a more modest setup was run from Thomas Urlin's cottage.
When Urlin passed away, his widow and son-in-law, Thomas Mawson, took over. Mawson quickly expanded the operation, buying The George public house and two neighbouring cottages for £70. He even acquired the brewhouse at Bedford House, laying the groundwork for a much bigger brewing business.
The subsequent notable owners were John Thompson and David Roberts, whose six-year partnership was plagued by legal issues. By 1786, the two had parted ways, with Roberts leaving to join the Royal Household and Thompson carrying on solo.
Eventually, Thompson passed the brewery down to his sons, Douglas and Henry. During their tenure in 1816, the Griffin name and symbol became attached to the brewery. The Griffin had been the logo of the now-defunct Meux and Reid's Brewery in Liquorpond Street, and the Thompson brothers were quick to snatch it up when that business went under.
While adopting the Griffin proved to be a smart move, other decisions by the brothers were less successful. Their financial dealings, particularly around mortgages, nearly led to disaster. Desperately needing investment, they brought in Philip Wood, the brother of the Lord Mayor of London. But even Wood's money wasn't enough. Enter John Fuller.
Fuller, a wealthy country gentleman, saw an opportunity and quickly invested in the brewery, primarily for the benefit of his son. He soon bought out one of the Thompsons and became the majority shareholder within a few years.
When John Fuller passed away in 1839, his son, John Bird Fuller, took over and moved fast to make his mark. By 1845, he'd completely cut ties with the Thompsons and was running the show. Fuller realized he needed additional expertise and invited John Smith, an experienced brewer, to join. Smith invested on behalf of his son, Henry, and son-in-law, John Turner. And just like that, Fuller, Smith & Turner was born.
In 1959, Reg Drury joined Fullers when cask ales were on the decline. Over his 40-year career, Drury experimented with modern brewing techniques, notably closed conical fermenters, which helped him perfect Fuller's beer recipes and improve consistency.
The first recorded mention of the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick dates back to 1816 when Douglas Thompson acquired the name from Meux & Reid's Brewery in the City of London. Alongside its celebrated beers, the brewery also boasts the oldest wisteria plant in the UK, planted in 1816, which still flourishes today on the A4 in Chiswick.
In 2019, after nearly two centuries as a family-run business, Fuller, Smith & Turner sold its drinks division, including The Fuller's Griffin Brewery, Cornish Orchards, Dark Star Brewery, and Nectar Imports, to Japanese beverage giant Asahi for £250 million.
Despite the sale, Fuller's legacy of brewing excellent ales remains. Over the years, they've introduced several iconic beers, starting with Chiswick Bitter in 1930, London Pride in the '50s, and ESB in 1971. In 1997, they launched their first Vintage Ale.
Curiously, this is named the Griffin Brewery, yet the tower has “LAMB BREWERY” emblazoned on it.