The History of Heavitree Brewery
The story of The Heavitree Brewery PLC begins in 1790. The Company was known as the "Heavitree Family Brewery" as founded by John Wolland in Church Street, Heavitree and thereafter continued by his nephew William and by his son Thomas. Thomas's sister, Elizabeth, married Thomas Baker of Exeter who joined the family brewery but died that year leaving Elizabeth and son Robert Baker to continue the business until 1890. On 7th February 1890 The Heavitree Brewery Limited was formed and continued the business of Baker & Son.
On 19th November 1892 The Heavitree Brewery Limited purchased The Finch Eagle Brewery in Exeter and on 9th January 1899 also purchased the neighbouring Windsor Brewery in North Street Heavitree.
However, following the appointment of Mr E W Gall as Secretary and General Manager on 1st January 1916 on a salary of £240 a year he systematically robbed the Company of money and fled in 1922 to Canada where he was later caught and sentenced to three years penal servitude and his accomplice to 12 months imprisonment.
The Heavitree Brewery Limited turned to John Parnell Tucker already being a shareholder and main creditor as a result of the unpaid malt he supplied to the Brewery. Together with former Andover Brewery owner H C Hammans, John Parnell Tucker successfully managed the Heavitree Brewery Limited back to its feet and completed two further purchases of the Dawlish Brewery of R B Ferris on 30th July 1926 and the Finch Newton Abbot Brewery on 19th November 1892.
On 17th December 1981 after listed as a Public Company, we became The Heavitree Brewery PLC and are proud to have remained a Family business. John Parnell Tucker was joined by his nephew Edwin Tucker in the business, he was followed by his son William Tucker and he in turn, has been followed by his son Nicholas Tucker.
We currently own 100 Public Houses, 95 of which are in Devon. Heavitree Inns Ltd was formed in January 1992 which operates 16 Public Houses as part of a successful Managed Estate.