The following is a list of defunct breweries in Cornwall which we believe to have been in existence at some point. Where possible, the closure year has been given, although this may have been lost in the fullness of time, as memories fade and accurate information may have been lost.

If you have any corrections or omissions, please email ku.gro.armac.nosiailyrewerb@rotanidrooc.tsewhtuos

A large number of CAMRA publications have been used in this compilation, including “Where Have All The Breweries Gone?” (1980), “Devon Real Ale Guide” (1990), “Moor To Sea – A Devon Real Ale Guide” (1993) and the “Good Beer Guide” (various years).

This page was last updated on 18 April 2024.

Albaston

Edward Bowhay and Brothers, was founded c1880. Thomas Taylor Bowhay inherited the brewery at Albaston from his uncles. Brewing continued until the mid-1930’s when brewing ended due to the harsh economic recession that affected east Cornwall at that time. Part of the brewery was demolished, probably in the 1940’s, to make way for a walled garden in front of the farmhouse, as the brewery was part of a working farm. The malthouse was demolished in the 1970’s. Many thanks to Alyson Bowhay, granddaughter of the late Thomas Bowhay, for updating this information.

Bodmin

Bodmin Ales, Cardinham, Bodmin Moor. This one-man operation was set up on a pig farm at Cardinham on Bodmin Moor in 1982. The first beer, Bell Bitter (OG 1038, was named after the owner’s former pub. Sadly, the brewery closed in 1984.

Leafy Hollow, Ferkins Barn, Lower Burlone, Washaway, PL30 3AJ. This nanobrewery was established in 2015 and brewed bottle-conditioned beers by hand crafting without machinery, using traditional methods and containing no modern chemicals. All brewing had ceased by January 2020.

Stallion Ales, Helland, Bodmin. Originally based near Chippenham, Wiltshire, they moved to Bodmin and began brewing in 1985. Two beers were produced, Stallion (OG 1040) and Barnstormer (OG 1060). A third beers, Riding Ale (OG 1046) soon followed, but all brewing had ceased by 1987.

Tower, Hazel Cottage, Tremeer Lane, Bodmin, Cornwall PL30 3NF. This nano brewery was believed to have been using a 0.5-BBL plant to produce their one bottled beer. However, due to Covid-19 pandemic, contact with the brewery was never established and we never confirmed that they were actually brewing beer commercially.

Bude

Bude, Unit 14C, Kings Hill Industrial Estate, EX23 8QN. Originally established near Launceston in 2011, then moved to Bude to start brewing under the Bude name in 2014. Progressive-styled beers were brewed on the rugged Cornish coast. Founders of the “Barrel that Rocks” and home of the Kreft Beer Movement. All brewing had ceased by April 2019.

Chacewater

Gradwell & Co, founded in 1889. Taken over by Sydney H Hatch of Penryn in 1901 with 16 licensed houses and the brewery was closed.

Moyle and Son, Station Road. Closed in c1920.

Falmouth

W & EC Carne, Falmouth Brewery Co, Killigrew Street. Brewing commenced in the mid-nineteenth century. Taken over by Devenish and Co Ltd, of Weymouth in 1921, and brewing had ceased by 1926. The brewery was demolished c1935 to make way for the Odeon cinema. Devenish produced a keg beer called Carne’s Falmouth Bitter back in the 1980s.

Black Rock, Unit 6C, Empire Way, Tregoniggie Industrial Estate, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4SN. Black Rock began brewing in 2013, producing just one beer. This increased to a core range of six beers, which were available in the brewery's first pub, the Small Ship, Falmouth, plus a number of other local outlets. Sadly, all brewing had ceased, and the plant sold, by December 2018.

Hayle

Christopher Ellis & Son Ltd, Steam Brewery, Brewery Road. Founded in 1815 and owned 32 licensed houses by the end of the century. Merged with Walter Hicks & Co Ltd in 1934 to form the St Austell Brewery Co Ltd. Brewing ceased at Hayle in the same year.

Paradise, Bird in Hand, Trelissick Road, TR27 4HY. Brewing first started in 1981 under the name Paradise Brewery, named after its location, the Paradise Bird Park. The name was changed to Wheal Ale in 1995. Brewing ceased in 2004 but re-started in 2009 under the original Paradise name, using a six-barrel plant. All brewing had ceased by January 2019.

Wheal Ale, Paradise Park, Trelissick Road, TR27 4HY. Brewing first started in 1981 under the name Paradise Brewery, named after its location, the Paradise Bird Park. The name was changed to Wheal Ale in 1995. Beers included Paradise Bitter (3.8%), Artists Ale (5.1%) and Speckled Parrot (5.5%). Brewing ceased in 2004 but re-started in 2009 under the original Paradise name. See Paradise above.

Helston

Cornish Chough, Trethvas Farm, The Lizard, Helston, Cornwall TR12 7AR. Cornish Chough, the most southerly brewery on the UK mainland, commenced brewing in 2011 at its location on Trethvas Farm, Lizard village. The brewery had its own borehole and drew water from between two seams of serpentine rock. They brewed a range of ten bottle conditioned ales. Sadly, all brewing had ceased by October 2018.

Organic Brewhouse, Curry Cross Lanes, Helston. Established in April 2000 in a former abbatoir. Four regular beers were brewed, all named after local points of geographical interest. No further news is known.

Poldark, Poldark Mine, Wendron, TR13 0ES. The brewery came out of the Poldark Mine visitor’s attraction in February 2010. John Packham, brewer, produced a range of beers named after characters in the twelve "Poldark" books, by Winston Graham, set in the second half of the 18th century to the early 19th century. Both bottled and occasional cask ales were produced in the 2.5-barrel plant. All brewing had ceased by August 2011.

Sleeman & Co, 62, Meneage Street. Brewing ceased c1920.

Isles of Scilly

Ales of Scilly, 2b Porthmellon Industrial Estate, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly TR21 0JY. Opened in 2001, Ales of Scilly was the most south-westerly brewery in Britain. Several island pubs and restaurants were regularly supplied, plus the occasional mainland beer festival. Special one-off beers were produced during the year in celebration of significant island events. Most real ale output occurred during the busier holiday months (March-October), although some production was maintained during winter for local pubs. Unfortunately, the brewery closed after 7 years under the current ownership, due mainly to rising costs and family commitments, in December 2023. Regular beers included Schiller (3.9%) and Challenger (4.2%).

Liskeard

Hardhead, Unit 26 Pensilva Industrial Estate, Pensilva, PL14 5RE. This was a 3-barrel brewery on the southern edge of Bodmin Moor, starting production in May 2014 with a best bitter and an IPA, with plans to add 3 or 4 more beers to its seasonal portfolio. However, all brewing had ceased by February 2017.

Point Break, Trevelmond, Liskeard, Cornwall PL14 4LZ. They were established near Liskeard, Cornwall, in mid-2020 during the pandemic. Four bottled beers were brewed in small batches on its 65-litre plant. All bottle labels used uncoated paper and were plastic-free. However, we were unable to maintain any contact with the owner from May 2021 and can only assume that they never really managed to become truly established.

D Venning & Son Ltd, East Cornwall Steam Brewery, Bayntree Hill. Founded in c1800 by Edmund Venning. 11 tied houses. The brewery was destroyed by fire in 1942 and brewing ceased. The firm carried on as bottlers and wine and spirit merchants. Taken over by Watney Combe Reid & Co Ltd in January 1955, and ceased to operate in March 1963. The derelict brewery was offered for sale in 1969.

Launceston

Fry’s, Trerice, Boyton, PL15 8NU. Fry's began brewing in 2011 on a 2.5-barrel plant previously used by Forgotten Corner Brewery (see below at Maker Heights). All brewing had ceased by May 2014.

Ring O’ Bells, Pennygillam Way, Pennygillam Industrial Estate, Launceston PL15 7ED. Brewing commenced in an old cider house at the Ring O’ Bells pub in 1999. However, the beers kept going off due the wild yeast strains, so they moved the brewery to more suitable premises listed here. Beers included Bodmin Boar (4.3%), Dreckly (4.8%) and Tipsy Trotter (4.8%). It is believed that all brewing had ceased by late 2007.

Lostwithiel

Fowey, Unit 3F, 3-4 Restormel Industrial Estate, Liddicoat Road, Lostwithiel, Cornwall PL22 0HG. Fowey was established in August 2016 on an industrial estate in Lostwithiel, where they produced five bottled ales, one of which was RAIB (Lerryn Blond). By the following August, all beers were bottle conditioned, and plans made to move into a larger unit on the same estate, with a larger 8-barrel plant. Cask brewing was successfully trialled by early 2019, with Sawmills Session IPA (4.5%), Lerryn Blond (4.8%), Lostwithiel Amber (4.9%), Readymoney Pale Ale (5.2%) and Golitha Falls IPA (7.0%) making up the portfolio.

It is believed that the pandemic hit the company hard and that owner, Geoff Troup, had made his mind up to retire after a chance meeting with Ash Cartmel and Kez Cunnliffe in late 2021. They were about to launch a new brewery, Newquay Brewing Project, but needed a suitable brewery. They made an offer for the plant, Geoff accepted and the deal was completed. Newquay Brewing Project are still trading today.

Maker Heights

Forgotten Corner, The Stables, Maker Barracks, PL10 1LA. The brewery began production in 2008 and several local outlets were supplied. All brewing had ceased by 2011.

Penryn

Granite Rock, Unit 19, Kernick Road Industrial Estate, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9EP. Granite Rock was established in 2013 as a brewery and a home-brew shop. It was located on an industrial estate in Penryn, and the five-barrel plant supplied the free trade in West Cornwall. Sadly, however, the home-brew shop closed by 2019, and brewing had ceased by late 2020.

Sydney H Hatch, Treluswel Brewery. The 12 public houses were taken over equally by St Austell Brewery Co Ltd and the Redruth Brewery Co Ltd after brewing had ceased in 1943.

Rebel, Century House, Kernick Industrial Estate, TR10 9EP. Rebel began brewing in 2011. It expanded to a nine-barrel plant with a shop and bar in 2012, supplying local pubs. Further expansion occurred in 2015, doubling capacity to meet increased local and national demand. The brewery was sold to the owners of cellar management company, Clear Brew, in 2017. The brewery ceased production in 2018 and the brand name and beers were sold to Dynamite Valley in early 2019, who are still trading today (March 2020).

Penzance

Pensans Brews, Gulval, near Penzance. Tim Sears, of the Blue Anchor brew pub at Helston, set up this small brewery at the beginning of 1983 in an old miking shed. He used a home-made brew kit. Beers included Coref Penzans (OG 1045), Cornish for Penzance Ale. Several other beers followed but, due to relying on the irregular holiday trade, brewing had ceased by 1985.

Poundstock

North Cornwall Brewery Co Ltd, registered in April 1907 to carry on the business of brewers and aerated water manufacturers, owned by Slaughter and Dominy. Wound up in 1912.

Redruth

Allsaints, Unit 10B, Cardrew Industrial Estate, TR15 1SS. Formerly known as Doghouse Brewery, which closed in 2007, Allsaints recommenced production in 2008 using spare capacity at Keltek Brewery. In 2009, the brewery began using spare capacity at Coastal Brewery in Redruth. All brewing ceased after a serious family illness in 2016.

Coastal, Unit 9B, Cardrew Trade Park South, Cardrew Way, Redruth TR15 1SW. Coastal was established in late 2006 on a five-barrel plant by Alan Hinde, formally of Crewe, Cheshire. They produced a range of beers including Hop Monster, Golden Hinde and St Pirans Porter. Alan relocated back up to Cheshire in 2020, taking his plant and equipment with him.

Doghouse, Unit 10B, Cardrew Industrial Estate, TR15 1SS. Brewing had ceased by 2007.

Krow, Penventon Terrace, Redruth TR15 3AD. Very little was known about this small microbrewery which commenced brewing small batch beers during the covid pandemic of 2020-2022. Two cask beers were brewed, Beyond The Pale and Grippa. It is believed that they ceased brewing operations due to family issues in mid-2022.

Redruth Brewery Co Ltd. There has been a brewery in Redruth since 1742 when William Dacey started brewing beer for the thousands of miners in the town. It became Redruth Brewery before 1827. It was registered in February 1887 to acquire the businesses of Redruth Brewery Co and WC Wicket & Co, of Penryn. They operated 194 licensed houses. Taken over by JA Devenish & Co Ltd, of Weymouth, in 1934, and traded for many years as Devenish Redruth Brewery Co Ltd. This side of the company became considerably larger than the site in Weymouth. Change came again in the 1980s when Devenish fell victim to takeover. The brewery side underwent a management buyout. Sadly, the company ceased brewing in 2004.

Saltash

Old Ferry Brewery. No known address. This brewery was due to open in 1984 but never really got going, sadly. Beers promised were: Tuffy’s Ale (OG 1039), Bosun’s Bitter (OG 1045) and Admiral’s Ale (OG 1060).

St Agnes

Hogswood, Higher Goshen, Mithian, TR5 0QE. Small family brewery set up in late 2009 and producing a range of ales using only natural ingredients, locally sourced whenever possible, with no additives. They had a capacity of 2½ barrels, which included on-site production of a bottle-conditioned range. All brewing had ceased by May 2014.

St Austell

Green Room, St Stephen Road, Sticker, PL26 7HA. Stephen Burton started brewing in 2009 on a 2.5-barrel plant at the listed address. Due to increased demand, he started using spare capacity at Keltek Brewery, along with its bottling facilities. Production was relocated from early 2010, with the original plant subsequently moved to Keltek to increase flexibility. Cask beers were occasionally produced, but most of the output was bottled, although none of the brews were bottle-conditioned. All brewing had ceased by October 2013.

Walter Hicks & Co Ltd, Trevarthian Road. The forerunner of St Austell which started brewing in 1860. They merged with Christopher Ellis & Son Ltd, of Hayle, in 1934. Walter Hicks & Co Ltd were founded in 1851 as wine merchants and began brewing in 1860. A new brewery was built in 1891. St Austell are still brewing in 2024.

St Breward

Dowr Kammel, Deaconstowe, Lower Lank, St Breward, Cornwall, PL30 4PW. Brewery established in Delank, near St. Breward, Bodmin Moor, in early 2016. A small number of local free houses were supplied with cask ales, including two house ales for the Blisland Inn. They had a core range of five cask ales, and a number of bottled ales were also available. The brewery ceased production in September 2022 and the company was dissolved in July 2023.

Tintagel

North Cornwall, Min Pin Inn, Tregatta, Tintagel. This was established in 1986 by the only all-female brewing team at the time, Marie Hall and her daughter Stephanie. Although small in size, and using malt extract, they brewed Legend (OG 1036) and the full-bodied Brown Willy (OG 1055). Sadly, all brewing had stopped by 1994.

Truro

Bathtub, Seven Stars Inn, Church Road, Stithians, TR3 7DH. Test brews appeared from this brewery, based at Seven Stars Inn, Stithians, Truro 7DH, at their beer festival at the beginning of July 2003. Production started more fully towards that end of the year. The brew length is about 11 gallons. Due to the sale of the pub, brewing was suspended in early 2007, but restarted later in the year. However, the brewer started brewing at Driftwood Brewery soon after and Bathtub closed.

Roseland, Roseland Inn, Philleigh, St Mawes, TR2 5NB. Established in 2009 by its owner/brewer at the Roseland Inn, St. Mawes. The beers were mostly named after local birds and were generally only available in the pub itself. Brewing was suspended and the pub and brewery were for sale in January 2019.

Sunset, Unit 4, Grampound Road Industrial Estate, Grampound Road, Truro, Cornwall TR2 4TB. Established in 2017 by Dan Piper, one bottled beer, Archipelago XPA, was contract brewed to Dan’s own recipe by Wooden Hand until they relocated to Wiltshire in January 2018, leaving Dan to find an alternative contract brewer. Sadly, Dan was unable to find another brewery to brew his beer. They were rumoured to have relocated to the Saltash area, but nothing could be found of them.

Tin Miner’s, Tin Miner's Brewery, c/o Roseland Inn, Philleigh, St. Mawes, TR2 5NB. It is believed that Tin Miner's commenced brewing in mid 2016, using the Roseland plant. It is believed that four bottled beers were brewed, but all brewing had ceased by the end of 2017.

Wooden Hand, Unit 3, Grampound Road Industrial Estate, Grampound Road, TR2 4TB. Wooden Hand was founded in 2004, changed hands in early 2015 and again in early 2017. The brewery is now part of the Cornish Brewing Company, along with Wooden Hand Wines. The bottling line was installed in 2005 and they also contract-bottle for other breweries. One cask ale was available all year round, with three seasonal beers, but all beers were available in bottle all year. All brewing ceased unexpectedly in late 2017, and it is believed that all brewing equipment was transferred to Salisbury Brewery, Dinton, near Salisbury, Wiltshire, by January 2018.

Ventonwyn, Grampound Road, Truro. The eight-barrel brewery was set up in 1999, 12-months after James Vincent’s first venture, Vincent’s closed after a fire. Vincent’s commenced brewing in the mid-1990s. All of the Ventonwyn beers were named after long-closed Cornish tin and copper mines. Apparently, the brewery name means “white spring” in Cornish. Beers brewed included Old Pendenn (4.0%), Dolcoath Porter (4.6%) and Ding Dong (4.5%). All brewing had ceased by 2002 after the sale of all plant and equipment. This subsequently became the Wooden Hand, see above entry for further details.

Other Selected Brewing Companies, out of Cornwall

Starkey, Knight & Ford Ltd, 54 High Street, Bridgewater, Somerset, and at Tiverton. Registered in November 1887 as Starkey, Knight & Co Ltd, and changed to the above in April 1895 when Thomas Ford & Son, of Tiverton, were acquired. Pubs in the Plymouth area were adorned with "Tivvy Beers" and a black horse on the outside of the pub. Taken over by Whitbread & Co Ltd in December 1962, with 400 tied houses. The business was merged with Norman & Pring Ltd, of Exeter, in 1964.

Samuel Allsopp & Sons Ltd, Burton-Upon-Trent, Staffs. Allsopp’s was founded in 1709, registered in February 1887, and merged with Ind Coope Ltd in 1934 to form Ind Coope & Allsopp’s Ltd. Formed Allied Breweries in 1961 after merger with Ansell’s Brewery Ltd and Tetley Walker.

Ind Coope Ltd, High Street, Burton-Upon-Trent, and Star Brewery, Romford, Essex. The company was founded at Romford in 1708, with the Burton brewery being established in 1856. It was registered in November 1886, and merged with Allsopps in 1934, and then Ansell’s and Tetley Walker in 1961 to form Allied Breweries.

Allied Breweries, 107 Station Street, Burton-Upon-Trent. Established in 1961 after the merger of Ind Coope & Allsopp’s, Ansells and Tetley Walker, and operated a small number of pubs in the Plymouth area under the name of Halls, who owned the Plympton Brewery, Furguson’s, in Valley Road, Plympton.

H & G Simonds Ltd, founded in 1774 at Broad Street, Reading, moved to Bridge Street in 1790. Taken over by Courage, Barclay & Co Ltd, of London, in 1960. Brewing ceased in 1979.

Courage & Co Ltd, Anchor Brewery, Horselydown, Bermondsey, SE1. The brewery was acquired by John Courage in 1787. They merged with Barclay, Perkins & Co Ltd in 1955 to form Courage, Barclay & Co Ltd. Taken over by Imperial Tobacco Co in August 1972.

Courage Ltd, Bristol Brewery, Bath Street, Bristol. The former George’s Brewery was the only Courage brewery in the south of England brewing cask ales by 1992, following the closure of breweries in London, Reading and Plymouth, and the sale of Ushers, of Trowbridge, with a management buyout.

Usher’s Wiltshire Brewery Ltd, Parade House, Trowbridge. Founded in 1824, registered in April 1889. Also brewed at the Sovereign Brewery, Bayswater, London, from 1890 until after 1919, when the relocated to Church Road, Paddington. This brewery was damaged by bombing, and the site sold in 1946. Merged with Watney Mann Ltd in May 1960, and re-named Usher’s Brewery Ltd in 1964.

Whitbread & Co Ltd, Chiswell Street, London EC1. Founded in 1742 and registered in July 1889. A new brewery was built in Luton in 1969, but brewing ceased here in 1975. Most real ales were brewed at the Cheltenham brewery (West Country Breweries below.

Flowers & Sons Ltd, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire. It was founded in 1831 and registered in February 1888. It was taken over by JW Green, of Luton, in 1954, who changed the name to Flowers & Sons Ltd. It was closed in 1968, when Whitbread merged Flowers with West Country Breweries, to form Whitbread Flowers Ltd.

West Country Breweries, 256 High Street, Cheltenham. Initially incorporated on 15th April 1888 as the Cheltenham Original Brewing Co Ltd, to acquire the business of JT Agg-Gardner, which was founded in 1760. The name was changed to the Cheltenham & Hereford Brewery Ltd in 1945, when the Hereford & Tredegar Brewery Ltd was taken over. The name was later changed to Cheltenham Brewery Holdings Ltd. They then merged again, with Stroud Brewery Co Ltd in 1958, to form West Country Breweries, with 1275 licensed houses. Finally, in 1963, they were taken over by Whitbread & Co Ltd, forming Whitbread Flowers Ltd.

JA Devenish & Co Ltd, 15 Trinity Street, Weymouth, and Redruth, Cornwall. Founded in 1742, and had 390 tied houses, with the Redruth plant trading under the name Cornish Brewery Company.Brewing took place at both sites until 1985, when the Weymouth site closed. Brewing continued in Redruth until 2004.

Watney, 91 Brick Lane, London. This was the brewing arm of the food, drinks and retailing group, Grand Metropolitan PLC. Most of their estate traded under the name Usher’s, until the Usher’s management buyout of 1992 brought Usher’s out of this large conglomerate.

William Hancock & Sons (Wiveliscombe) Ltd, Wiveliscombe, Somerset. Registered in 1896, and merged with Arnold & Sons Ltd, of Taunton, in 1927, forming Arnold & Hancock Ltd. Taken over by Usher’s Wiltshire Brewery in 1955. It may be in farm use today (2018).

Bass, Ratcliff & Gretton Ltd, 137 High Street, Burton-Upon-Trent. It was founded in 1777 and registered in January 1880. Further merged with Bass, Mitchell’s & Butler, then Bass Charrington PLC, of 30 Portland Place, London, who were once the country’s largest brewer, and owned over 7 000 pubs.