A brewery in Smethwick is celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day this Thursday by selling pints at £1.50.
The Davenports brewery, which has pubs across the Midlands, is selling pints of their Drum Bitter at the price across all of its pubs to celebrate the historic day and remember all of those involved in the war effort.
Red, white and blue balloons will decorate their public houses, with a special celebratory box of Davenports ales available to purchase via its ‘Beer at Home’ delivery service.
Before the Second World War, Davenports was the largest brewery in Britain, making more than 120,000 bottles of beer every day.
The Davenports brewery is selling pints of their Drum Bitter for £1.50 across all of its pubs
Davenports
However, when the war demanded the switch from civilian manufacturing to military production, making ale at the factory had to take a back seat.
Katie McPhilimey, Associate Marketing Director for Davenports said: “Davenports turned its focus from ales, to assisting the war effort, which meant ales were in short supply.
“The company boasted a strong work force that included many women, who took on even greater responsibility during the war whilst so many men were called to action.
“Whilst Davenports switched the company’s capabilities to the war efforts without hesitation, despite times being tough, the then Baron Davenport continued his investment in technology throughout the war, to ensure that when it was over the company was ready to resume full production and fulfil demand once again.”
The brewery was praised in the press during the 1930s and 40s for being “very technically advanced”, with the technology utilised as part of the nationwide push to maximise Britain’s wartime production capacity.
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The brewery was praised in the press during the 1930s and 40s for being 'very technically advanced'
Davenports
When production peaked in early 1944, the weekly output included: more than 500 aircraft, 3000 tons of aircraft bombs, 450 guns, 1.5 million shells and mines and more.
Davenports’ support of the country’s efforts was shown on the cover of The Malts and Hops, which was an internal magazine for staff.
In the February 1943 edition, Winston Churchill was front and centre, and to mark VE Day this year the cover been made into a postcard for customers.
The Davenport family have been brewing beer since 1829, with the company originally established in Hockley, Birmingham, by Robert Davenport.
In the February 1943 edition, Winston Churchill was front and centre, and to mark VE Day this year the cover been made into a postcard for customers
Davenports
Baron John Davenport began the ‘Beer at Home’ service in 1904 which registered to supply “pure bottled ale and stout at the cheapest possible price”, but during the war years the delivery business suffered due to the rationing of brewing materials and fuel for transport.
Baron Wayne Davenport runs the operation today and says he’s excited for the VE Day celebrations this Thursday.
He said: “It’s not quite 1945 prices, but it’s a seriously cheap price for such a great bitter, and it’s our way of marking such a special day.
“It was a day that back in 1945, Davenports played its part in supporting, and in celebrating!”
