35 not out! Where does the time go?
Where does the time go?
1st April 1991 was my first day of employment at Hooky. I had of course worked school holidays in the past, but after just over a year working at Randalls Brewery in Jersey, this was the start of my full-time employment. First task, improve quality control. Our microbioligical control consisted of a bi-annual external audit, so room for enhancement and improvement. A small lab facility was established in house. At this time we were still declaring OG rather than alcohol by volume, a good proportion of the three beers we brewed was Mild, the coolship was in daily use, and pubs were busy! Saturday night in Hooky the pubs were all packed, and Sunday lunchtime you queued to get in at noon, for a fast two-hour six-pint session, then home for lunch.
We broadened the beer range in 1992 with the addition of Twelve Days, at 5.5% back then was strong, and it took us all a degree of familiarisation with this beer. We all have a Twelve Days story, but few are for publishing. Haymaker, Double Stout, Generation followed, and in 1999 we celebrated our 150th Anniversary, with a Royal visit, and the opening on the Visitor Centre. The noughties proved tough, as progressive beer duty was introduced, and attitudes towards alcohol started to change. All day opening didn’t really do anything apart from increase operational costs for pubs. In 2004 my father passed away, and three months later our retired Company Secretary, who remained a non-executive Director, also died. At 33 years old, it was a huge void to fill. In 2009, our Chairman was killed in a horseriding accident; another tragedy to overcome. But with unrelenting support from all staff and publicans across the business, we navigated our way through the challenges.
This became even more important as we entered the Covid years; never had pubs been closed down, even during two World Wars. It is too much to describe in detail, and a period of time we would all rather forget, but the support of all stakeholders was absolutely solid.
As we looked forward to celebrating our 175th anniversary, we suffered the terrible fire. But good contingency plans and a robust response from the emergency services meant we had no injuries, and completed the rebuild earlier this year.
So if anything comes from my ramblings, it really is the fact that people make a business, and none more so than here at Hooky. It is the people through the ages who have made the brewery what it is. And we are a people business – we don’t sell beer, we sell fun, an experience.
What is my favourite beer? The one in my hand right now. And as I often say, I do not go to the pub for beer. What I hear you cry? No, the beer is of course part of the reason, but equally important are the company, hospitality and environment. In a digital age – the world wide web hit the ground in 1991 – where so much time we spend is in a virtual world, the pub experience becomes ever more precious. Sadly, we have lost around 20,000 pubs in the last 30+ years; we mustn’t lose any more if we can help it.
I could write for hours, but we did that a couple of years ago in the august company of Adrian T-J, when we wrote Playing Hooky, so I commend the book.
I will raise a glass later, to Hooky, but more importantly, to all who have, do and will sail with her.
Cheers!
James Clarke.
Read all about it! Playing Hooky – A History of Hook Norton Brewery
Available –
Online here
In the brewery shop
