The Hook Norton Dray is Back!

A beloved tradition is making a return to the streets of Hook Norton this Thursday, August 7th, as the Hook Norton Brewery’s iconic shire horse and dray deliveries are back in action.

The magnificent team of shire horses, Brigadier and Balmoral, will make a special delivery to The Pear Tree Pub. The team is expected to leave the brewery around midday, so keep an eye out for them!

This return marks a significant moment for the brewery, which had to temporarily pause its dray deliveries. This was due to the tragic loss of two of our shire horses, Commander and Lady Grey.

At the time, Brigadier and Balmoral, who were four years old, were too young to be put into harness. For the welfare and health of the horses, the brewery ensures their skeletal development and maturity are complete before they begin work. Shire horses can typically begin harness training around five years old.

The delivery will be led by Brigadier and Balmoral, under the expert direction of Head Coachman Nicholas Carter and Groom Alyster Mills.

“There’s something incredibly special about delivering beer the traditional way—it’s a living link to our brewing heritage,” said Carter.

Hook Norton Brewery is one of only two breweries in the UK that still uses shire horses for deliveries. The brewery’s three shire horses—Brigadier, Balmoral, and Cromwell—are stabled on-site and can be visited by the public seven days a week, offering a unique attraction for both visitors and beer lovers.

For more information and updates, you can follow their journey on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hnbheavyhorses or visit their section of this website here.