Kimberley Brewery - undergoing redevelopment

Image: © Stephen McKay Taken: 11 Mar 2018

A brewery was founded here in Kimberley in 1832 and was subsequently bought by the Hardy family in 1857. In 1930 the business merged with local rivals Hanson's to become Hardys and Hansons - a name that became familiar across the East Midlands, especially around the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border where the company owned many pubs. In 2006 it was sold to Suffolk brewer Greene King who declared at the time 'we have long admired (Hardys and Hansons) for its high quality estate, strong management team, dedicated staff and rich heritage'. This did not stop them closing the Kimberley brewery later the same year and moving production to Bury St Edmunds. Nottingham drinkers would say that the beer brewed by Greene King was never quite the same. The old brewery was simply abandoned with much of its equipment left in place, although the site was sold in 2010 to a development company. Redevelopment is now finally happening, converting the site to residential use and happily some of the old buildings will be incorporated into the plan.

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