Raising a glass to the memories of Wrexham brewery

ACT Training, Wales’ largest training provider, issued an appeal for old photographs and memorabilia to display at the site, which has recently been refurbished.

The brewery’ originally closed in 2000, halting production of the famous drink which took the town’s name around the world.

But in 2011, Wrexham Lager was relaunched, reviving the brand and boosting the profile of the town.

The Old Brewery in Bradley Road was converted into office accommodation after the closure of what was previously Britain’s first commercially successful brewery.

Since then the site has proved its significance to the town’s economy through the provision of training opportunities to young learners from across Wrexham in a range of skills, including hairdressing, business administration and customer services.

Now ACT staff are keen to mark the transition from one era to another by displaying old photographs and other memorabilia within the centre and pay homage to the site’s historical significance as a hub of Wrexham industry.

Regional development manager Andrea Hall and her colleagues are asking residents with old photographs and other memorabilia concerning the old brewery to get in touch and share their memories.

She said: “We are aware that the site has undergone many changes in recent years and are keen to remind learners coming to study at ACT, especially the younger students, of Wrexham’s industrial history and the significance of this site in particular. We are also keen to provide the town as a whole with a focal point for heritage locally and would welcome anyone keen to come into the centre and view our collection once it is complete to re-jig their own memories at the same time.”

She added: “We are appealing to anyone who might be able to help us out with putting such a collection together to get in touch, therefore, and discuss how best their memorabilia can be used for display purposes either as an original or replica version.”

The brainchild of German immigrants Ivan Levinstein and Otto Isler, the brewery was built in 1882 but went bust only to be re-launched as the Wrexham Lager Beer Company 10 years later.

Post-war, changing tastes and internationalisation of the brewing trade led to Wrexham Lager Brewery being sidelined however, and although it was still winning awards in the 1980s, by 2000 it was forced to close.

In 2001 Martyn Jones bought the rights for Wrexham Lager from Carlsberg and the brewery has since been re-established.

Anyone with relevant photographs or other memorabilia is invited to visit the centre in person, call 01978 312202 or email andreahall@acttraining.org.uk.