King Charles has pulled a pint at Hall & Woodhouse (H&W) Badger Brewery in Blandford Forum, Dorset, a historic brewery that will celebrate its 250th anniversary next year. The visit followed England's World Cup defeat against Argentina.
Royal Visit to Historic Brewery
The King and Queen Camilla toured the brewery, which was founded in 1777 by West Country farmer Charles Hall. Today, H&W produces over nine million pints of beer annually and employs more than 1,500 people across 140 pubs in the South of England. The business is currently stewarded by seventh and eighth generation owners Anthony Woodhouse and Tatiana Woodhouse.
During the visit, King Charles poured a pint of Fursty Ferret, a 3.4% pale ale, and met several of the brewery's chef and brewing apprentices.
Apprenticeship and Heritage
Anthony Woodhouse, chairman and seventh generation custodian, said: “It’s an immense privilege to welcome The King and Queen to Blandford during such a remarkable moment for our business. We’re celebrating our first 250 years and have our sights firmly set on success for many more generations ahead. We’ve expanded our apprenticeship schemes in recent years, building and growing our team for the future and it was an honour to introduce Their Majesties to some of our apprentices today. We are incredibly proud of our heritage and are committed to continuing the success of the company for the benefit of communities now and for generations to come.”
Head brewer Toby Heasman presented the King with a bottle of coronation ale, first brewed in 2023 to celebrate His Majesty’s coronation.
Commemorative Plaque Unveiled
The King and Queen also unveiled a commemorative plaque honouring the organisation’s first 250 years. The plaque is displayed in the company's Brewery Tap bar and café, located in the Victorian maltings of the original brewery. In June, H&W celebrated its 249th anniversary with its annual Founder’s Day celebrations, bringing together team members from across the business.
