Robert Cains Brewery
Cains Brewery, established in 1850 by Robert Cain, an Irishman, came into existence when he acquired another well-established brewery in the vicinity. At the young age of 24, Cain embarked on his brewing journey by purchasing a pub and crafting his own ales. With a fervour for employing cutting-edge techniques and state-of-the-art equipment, Cain swiftly rose to become one of Liverpool's most prosperous entrepreneurs. Throughout his lifetime, he expanded the brewery multiple times, notably in 1887 and between 1900 and 1902, when the iconic redbrick section of the brewery was erected. By the time Cain passed away on July 19, 1907, he had amassed immense wealth, ranking among the wealthiest individuals in the United Kingdom.
During its zenith, Robert Cain and Sons, the company, owned a staggering number of 200 pubs in Liverpool. However, its true distinction lies in the creation of some of the most opulent and extravagant pubs in all of Britain. Cain's personal mansion boasted windows adorned with his monogram on each arch. In 1887, construction commenced on a second brewery, further solidifying the legacy of the Cains brand. In 1921, 14 years after Cain's demise, the Cains brewery merged with Walkers of Warrington, forming Walker Cains. Subsequently, in 1923, the original Stanhope Street Brewery was sold to Higsons, who continued brewing Cains ales on the premises. In 1985, Boddingtons of Manchester acquired Higsons. However, a few years later, Boddingtons made the decision to focus solely on pub ownership and consequently sold all its breweries to Whitbread. This marked the closure of the Stanhope Street site. The modern canning lines at the brewery were a significant investment under Boddingtons' ownership, making it an attractive asset. However, it was later acquired by the previous owners of Gee Bee Soft Drinks, who then sold it to Princes. The new owners rebranded the business as Robert Cain but primarily focused on producing for supermarkets.
Faxe Bryggeri A/S (now Royal Unibrew) saw Cains as an opportunity to enter the UK market and invested in their ales and local pubs. Unfortunately, unlike Carlsberg, Faxe couldn't make a breakthrough in the UK market and decided to sell Cains in 2002. Following this the Dusanj brothers became the first Asian owners of a British brewery when they acquired Cains. At the time, the brewery had a turnover of £30 million. However, under their leadership, it took only ten years for the company to go into administration with debts amounting to a staggering £38 million, averaging a loss of over £3.5 million per year. In 2007, the company's board agreed to a reverse takeover by AIM-listed pub operator Honeycombe Leisure plc. This gave Cains access to Honeycombe's 109 outlets and a stock market listing. The company was then renamed Cains Beer Company PLC. Unfortunately, like Cains Brewery, it faced insurmountable debts and ceased to function within a year.
In 2008, the company faced a financial crisis and was forced into administration due to unpaid taxes and debts totalling £38 million. This was despite the fact that the company had a yearly turnover of £65.5 million. Despite negotiations with the bank, no agreement could be reached to avoid administration. However, the Dusanj brothers stepped in and bought back the brewery and eight original pubs for a mere £103,750. Since the Dusanji family owned the brewery site and had control over the lease terms, no other buyer could be found.
By 2013, the company made the decision to stop contract brewing and producing supermarket beers. Eventually, they completely ceased brewing operations and instead found a contract brewer to produce their own beers. Unfortunately, this led to 38 staff members losing their jobs. At this point, Cains was left with only three pubs - the Brewery Tap, Dr Duncan's, and The Dispensary. However, by 2015, they managed to expand their estate to five pubs, with the addition of Kelly's Dispensary in Smithdown Road and The Edinburgh in Wavertree.
In 2013, Cains embarked on a redevelopment project for the site, aiming to create a space for leisure activities and housing. They also planned to establish a small craft brewery to continue producing their ales. The following year, they arranged for a limited quantity of their beers to be contract-brewed for export and sale in their pub estate. Additionally, Liverpool City Council granted planning permission for the development known as the Cains Brewery Village. This ambitious project was intended to be a tourism, leisure, and retail attraction, featuring a hotel, cinema, bistro bar, restaurants, and a retail hall for artisan food producers. However, as of 2023, only parts of this proposal have been realised, with the hotel section remaining vacant and in a state of decay.
In 2017, a food hall opened on the site, operated by Baltic Markets. It offered a variety of food, drinks, live entertainment, and events, and was open four times a week. Then, in the spring of 2022, brewing activities resumed at the site, using the original recipes that made Cains famous. Then in January 2023, a £3.5 million 'BOXPARK' food hall and events space received the green light with planning permission. This exciting development aims to revitalise the existing food and drink hall, bringing a fresh wave of energy to the iconic Liverpool building. With ten kitchen units, three internal bars, exterior bars, and a charming garden for al fresco dining, this new facility promises to be a vibrant hub for culinary delights and social gatherings. Unlike many breweries that have sadly disappeared from the bar scene across the country, the future shines brightly for this remarkable establishment.
