Beer, at least figuratively, is in our blood. Badger, our crown jewel, is so much more than just beer; it is rich in heritage, expertise and craftsmanship. It is woven into the tapestry of the last two and a half centuries of world history. And since we started brewing in 1777 we have proudly remained family-owned and Dorset-based. We’d love to tell you our story.
In 1777 Charles Hall, an entrepreneurial gentleman farmer, built his Brewery in the Dorset village of Ansty. Fortunately for him, Dorset farmers are hard-working — and thirsty — and business was good.
By 1793 the Napoleonic wars had begun and the British government gave their troops a daily allowance of five pints of beer. Charles saw an opportunity and won the license to supply Wellington’s troops quartered in Weymouth.
60 years later, his son Robert (who inherited the brewery) brought Edward Woodhouse into the business as his commercial partner, a move he knew would propel the business forward.
What he did not foresee was Edward falling in love with Charles Hall’s grand-daughter, Hannah Dodge. Thus, when Edward and Hannah married Hall & Woodhouse was born.
Over time, rather than spend on fine living, the entrepreneurial Robert and Edward drove the family business forward by investing the majority of profits back into the company — buying pubs in which to sell their ‘Badger beers’.
Today, our family of pubs is one of the finest in the country, with over 150 iconic public houses and inns (both traditional and contemporary) at the heart of their communities across the South of England.
Badger beer is the golden thread running through our business. In fact, we are so protective of our beer quality that our prized cask ale is only served in our pubs. Lovers of Badger beer outside the South of England can find our award-winning bottled ales in leading supermarkets and off-licences (nationally and internationally).
We are stewarded by the seventh and eighth generation of the Hall & Woodhouse family and we’re proud to be a leading independent regional brewer with a beautiful collection of pubs. We continue to invest and innovate in beer and pubs, ensuring we remain a fiercely independent family company at the forefront of British brewing and hospitality.
