Jennings Brewery

Image thanks to Jennings Brewery

One of the oldest and largest breweries in Cumbria, Jennings has dominated the brewing industry in the Lake District for over 100 years.

Today, the brewery is owned by Marston’s but still retains much of its independence and it still uses pure Lake District water in its manufacturing process. The brewery buildings are an iconic part of the Cockermouth skyline and a tour of the brewery is a must for any visitor to the town.

About Jennings Brewery

Image thanks to Jennings Brewery

John Jennings established Jennings brewery in 1828 in Lorton, a village that lies a few miles to the south of Cockermouth. The exact location of the original brewery is not entirely clear, though it’s thought to have been close to what is now Lorton Village Hall. In 1874, demand for Jennings beer had increased significantly and a new plant was opened at the current brewery site in Cockermouth. It was chosen thanks to its supply of pure well water that also supplied the adjacent Cockermouth Castle. When John Jennings passed away the business was left in the hands of his three sons, who later converted the business into a limited company.

The business continued to grow, and in addition to the Castle Brewery site, the company purchased several pubs in the area, guaranteeing the brewery a number of outlets for its products. Today there is barely a town in Cumbria that does not have at least one Jennings owned pub. The business was purchased in 2005 by Marston’s PLC who invested considerably in the site and have seen the brand continue to grow, with Jennings beer found around the world. The same well water is still used in the brewing process, along with traditional brewing methods.

Beer List

Some of the beers produced by Jennings include:

• Atomic Theory – An IPA named in honour of Cockermouth physicist, John Dalton.
• Fine Line – A pale ale named after the graphite that can be found in Borrowdale.
• Night Vision – Formerly known as Jennings Bitter and named in reference to Cockermouth’s claim to be one of the first towns to have piloted electric lighting.
• Cumberland – A golden beer that is one of the brand’s most popular drinks.

In October 2019, the brand announced it would be stopping round the year production of two of its most famous brews, Cockerhoop and Snecklifter, but these will be returning as seasonal brews at some point in the future.

Visiting the Brewery

Guided tours are available throughout the year except in January. Tours are generally at 1.30pm but the days of the week that the tours are available vary from month to month, so it’s best to check in advance of your visit and book a place online to be guaranteed a spot.

Tours cost £9.50 for adults and £5 for children (under 12s are not permitted). Adults will receive three half pints in the bar included in the cost of the tour. Tours take around 90 minutes to complete and tour ticket holders also receive 10% off in the brewery shop on the day. The brewery also hosts various events throughout the year, such as beer festivals, family fun days, and Christmas activities.

Map