Timeline

Important dates in Arkell's history, including dates of establishment of all our pubs.

1802
John Arkell born

1830
John Arkell emigrated to Canada and established the village of Arkell

1833
John Arkell returned to England

1843
Arkell's Brewery established in Swindon Road, Stratton St Margaret

The Kingsdown Inn (relocated in 1867)

1856
The Carriers Arms (later The Lord Raglan; closed in 1907)

1861
Arkell's Brewery built at Kingsdown
The George, Kempsford

1862
The Fox Inn, Highworth
The Harrow, Wanborough (10-year lease)

1864
The Golden Cross, Cirencester
The Artillery Arms, Regent Street, Swindon (demolished in 1936)

1866
The Tavern Inn, Greatfield (later renamed The Butchers Arms; closed 2000)

1867
The Kingsdown Inn rebuilt on its present site
The Plough Inn, Swindon

1868
The Crown Inn, Stratton St Margaret

1869
The Brewers Arms, Cirencester
The Eight Bells, Fairford
The Duke of Wellington, Swindon

1870
The Bakers Arms, Faringdon

1871
The Wheatsheaf, Stratton St Margaret
The Great Western Hotel (now the GW)
The Plume of Feathers, Cirencester (now The Bee's Knees)

1872
The Wild Deer, Swindon
The Mechanics Arms, Cheltenham Street, Swindon (closed and demolished in 1961)

1873
The Brewers Arms, Wanborough
The Dolphin, Swindon
The Duke of Edinburgh, Swindon

1874
The Red Lion, Lechlade

1875
The White Hart, Moredon, Swindon (closed in 1877)
The Bull, Highworth (closed in 1881)

1876
The Borough Arms, Wootton Bassett

1877
Maltings erected
The Talbot Inn, Cirencester
The Red Lion, Swindon (now The Boundary House)
The Carpenters Arms, Gorse Hill, Swindon (demolished in 1964 and rebuilt in Chapel Street; now The Swiss Chalet)

1878
The Belle Vue Inn (now Long's Bar)
The White Hart, Stratton St Margaret

1879
The Fox and Hounds, Wroughton

1880
The New Inn, Cromwell Street, Swindon (demolished in 1969)

1881
The Bakers Arms, Swindon
The Clifton Hotel (now The Clifton)
The Carpenters Arms, South Marston

John Arkell died

1883
The Saracens Head Hotel, Highworth
The Running Horse, Swindon

1884
The New Inn, Stratton St Margaret
The Angel, Purton

1885
The Kings Arms Hotel (now The Kings), Swindon
The Foresters Arms, Fleet Street, Swindon (demolished in 1959)
The Gardeners Arms, Westcott Place, Swindon (demolished in 1979)

1886
The Lamb and Flag (now Bar Cuba)
The Masons Arms, Old Town, Swindon (demolished in 1969)

1889
The Three Tuns, Wroughton

1891
The Black Horse, Wanborough
The Sun Inn, Swindon

1892
The Freke Arms, Swanborough

1896
The Bakers Arms, Upper Stratton
The Plough Inn, Highworth

1897
The County Ground Hotel, Swindon
The Malt Shovel, Highworth (demolished in 1907)

1899
The Plough Inn, Stratton St Margaret (now The Rat Trap)

1900
The Plough Inn, Fairford

1904
The Axe and Compass, Wanborough (closed in 1907)

1906
The Bakers Arms, Badbury
The Wheatsheaf, Wootton Bassett (now Sally Pussey's Inn)
The Old Bear, Cricklade

1907
The Plough Inn, Badbury

1910
Launch of Best Bitter Beer (later called BBB, then 3B)

1922
The Jolly Tar, Hannington
The Royal Oak, Lechlade

1923
Present chairman, Peter Arkell, born
The Duke Hotel, Hilmarton

1924
The George Hotel, Lambourn
The Masons Arms, Aldbourne (sold in 1990)

1926
The Bell, Purton Stoke

1927
Arkell's becomes a private limited company
Bottling plant opened

1931
The Crossways Club, Upper Stratton (now The Moonrakers)

1943
Arkell's 100th Anniversary

1951
Present Managing Director, James Arkell, born
The Curriers Arms, Wootton Bassett
The Royal Oak, Bishopstone
The Tavern Inn, Kemble

1954
Present chairman, Peter Arkell, became a director

1955
R Holgate-Smith appointed head brewer

1959
The Steam Train, Swindon (now The Manor)

1962
John Arkell Vintners established

1964
The Carpenters Arms, Swindon (now The Swiss Chalet) relocated

1967
Don Kenchington appointed head brewer
Austin Amusements established

1971
Peter Arkell became chairman

1972
The Highwayman, Elkstone

1973
Present Managing Director, James Arkell, became a director
The Bull Hotel, Fairford
The White Hart Hotel, Cricklade

1976
Launch of Kingsdown Ale
The Victoria Inn, Eastleach

1978
Launch of Arkell Shandy

1979
Arkell's buys 50 per cent of shares in Edmont Joinery
The George, Fairford (closed in the same year and added to the adjoining Bull Hotel)

1980
The Liden Arms, Swindon

1982
First Arkell's Passport promotion

1983
The Duke of Edinburgh, Winkfield

1985
The Woodshaw Inn, Wootton Bassett

1986
The Crown Inn, Broad Hinton

1987
Launch of Noël Ale
The Bear, Marlborough
Globe Inn, Gloucester

1989
The Lord Lyon, Stockcross (now Rybaks)
The Thames Head Inn, Cirencester

1991
The Plough, Stratton, Cirencester
The India House, Gloucester
The Whitesmiths Arms, Gloucester
The Sir Colin Campbell, Gloucester
The Adam and Eve, Cheltenham
The Exmouth Arms, Cheltenham
The Hereford Arms, Cheltenham
The St James Hotel, Cheltenham

1992
Don Bracher appointed head brewer
The Coopers Arms, Newbury
Ye Old Red Lion, Chievely

1993
Arkell's 150th Anniversary

1994
The Rose and Crown Hotel, Ashbury

1996
The Cross Keys, Newbury
The Friar, New Marston

1997
Peter Arkell awarded OBE
The Globe, Gloucester
The Original Swan, Cowley

1998
Arkell's Brewery website launched

1999
The Eagle Tavern, Oxford
The Hare and Hounds, Foss Cross
The Cat and Fiddle, Cheltenham
Cassidy's, Cheltenham (now Bar Cuba)

2000
The Bantam, Burghfield Common
The Bolingbroke Hotel, Hook
The Jovial Monk, Shaw Ridge, Swindon

2001
Organic Ale launched
The Winkfield, Winkfield

2002
Jubilee Ale launched

2003
Arkell's 160th anniversary
Chairman Peter Arkell's 80th birthday - Moonlight Ale launched
The White Hart, Whitchurch
The Rising Sun, Reading
The Tawny Owl, Taw Hill, North Swindon

2004
The Punchbowl, Woodstock

2005
The Great Arkell's Adventure launched
Swindon Pride Ale launched
The King's Arms, Chipping Norton
The White Horse at Woolstone

2006
Her Majesty the Queen's 80th Anniversary Ale launched
The Bear Hotel, Wantage

2007
Cask-conditioned Organic Ale launched