Copyright 2006: B. United International Inc., All rights reserved.
For the British brewing industry the First World War was regarded as a disasterm with beer duties raised by over 400 per cent, output restricted, beer strength reduced, quality lowered and raw material prices raised. Gales though proved resilient, and the Company excaped relatively unscathed.
After the war, Gales trophy cabinet continued to overflow, winning awards at the Brewer's Exhibition every year from 1923 to 1926 inclusive as well as in 1928 and 1930. Was there any wonder that they continued to increases sales of their five cask beers and eight bottled beers.
Because of aerial warfare the Second World War had a more direct impact on the civilian population. Gales had a number of houses damaged by Lufwaffe raids and petrol and transport shortages meant resorting to horse-drawn vehicles for the first time since 1929. However, despite this, and with strict rationing limiting the opportunities to spend, the pub became re-established as a centre of leisure.
Picture: Old bottling machine from the 1890s was in use until 1994.
Gales had survived a World War again, but could they survive the post war slump? By 1949 output had fallen 40 per cent, and profits fell even more dramatically to under 4,000 pounds. It was clearly a time for much concern.
1959 was a time of rapid change, and marked the beginnings of Gales recovery, as along with new machinery, Gales first introduced Horndean Special Bitter (HSB).
