Leader: A final toast to Berkshire Brewery

Published 19 Mar 2010 09:00 3 Comments

THE closure of the Berkshire Brewery is not just the end of an era, it marks the completion of several chapters of the town's history.

Since William Blackall Simonds' original brew house moved from Broad Street to Seven Bridges House in 1790, and when Courage decided it had outgrown the town centre and created a new modern brewery at Worton Grange, the surviving beer element of the 3Bs has played its full part in the changing face of Reading.

We grew accustomed to that towering brewery chimney pumping out aromatic clouds of promise long before its iconic status faced the challenge of the young pretender wind turbine which now catches the eye of weary motorists passing on the M4.

While the closure of the brewery will inevitably spell further dramatic changes in the landscape, the far thinking efforts of the company's management has ensured that Reading will not suffer the haemorrhages suffered by areas where major employers from British Leyland to Cadbury have, for one reason or another, called it a day.

We hear this week that while the cash is there to free up the railway bottleneck around Reading, a palatial new station might have to wait. A timely reminder, perhaps, that appearances aren't everything.

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This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 18 Mar 10

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• 

  Zoe Annereau
  Unregistered User
  Mar 30, 13:57
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  The last thing that Reading is known for is gone and without a strong fight yet more people unemployed congratulations to the new owners hope your beer goes sour!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  Jon
  Unregistered User
  Apr 12, 18:33
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  I agree,having worked for the Brewery for 17 years and born and lived in Reading for over 40 years. Due to the joint efforts of THe PRU and Thames Water, This is the end of Reading.Everything has gone and the poor efforts of housing(Kennet island),offer nothing to support the local economy. With all the empty office space providing no local employment for the people they have made redundant, shame on you The Pru & Thames Water.
  
  more money grabbing vultures!!.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  Jon
  Unregistered User
  Apr 12, 18:51
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  there was no swearing, it says you are money grabbing vultures!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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