It was known as the ‘Star’ brewery because of the red illuminated star on top of the brewery tower. This became a landmark on the Nottingham skyscape – it could be seen from miles away by any traveller either visiting or passing by the city via northern routes.

Shipstones Brewery

The brewery remained independent until Greenalls of Warrington purchased it in 1978. Initially the Greenalls group made changes in the production of the bitter to apparently ‘make it a more acceptable drink for the mass market’, but still concentrated on advertising Shipstones as local bitter. They sponsored Nottingham Forest FC and promoted Shippo’s, as the locals knew it, but this was eventually replaced by Labatts Lager (Greenalls Canadian Lager).

Greenalls now had breweries at Nottingham, Warrington, Wem and Birmingham before their brewery closure programme began – the first loss being Wem (beer production transferred to Birmingham). Davenports in Birmingham was next to close (production moved to Nottingham).

During 1989/91 concerns were expressed over the quality of Shippo’s and a lack of marketing motivation behind the local product and a new cask beer was brought into the area - Thomas Greenalls Original Bitter, from the Warrington brewery.

On 15 May 1990 the managing director of Greenalls Midlands wrote to confirm that it was their intention to continue to promote both Davenports and Shipstones, but as history states, no assurances were actually given to the survival of the brewery!

It was noted that later that year the letterhead for Shipstones had been replaced with the name ‘Greenalls Midlands Ltd’ and pubs were being re-signed bearing the Greenalls name, although these were largely away from Nottingham.

Finally on 31 August 1990 Greenalls announced cessation of all brewing – to become retailers only and the Basford brewery was shut in early 1991. Beer production contracted to Allied Lyons – initially being brewed from Burton-upon-Trent then transferred to the Allied Brewery in Warrington, and the rest as they say, is history.