The Brewers and the King: September Livery Dinner

On 27 September the Brewers’ Company held its first event since the end of national mourning and were pleased to welcome Liverymen, friends and family back to Brewers’ Hall.

Having observed a minute’s silence for Her Late Majesty at the start of the evening, the Master took some time in his speech to reflect on the relationship between brewers and the Royal Family. “When Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne, Brewers’ Hall was still a pile of rubble [having been destroyed in the Blitz] – and was not rebuilt until the eighth year of her reign. When she came to the throne there was still rationing: all drinks were rationed, except beer which was – of course quite rightly – considered essential.”

He went on to say, “…as we emerge from the age of Elizabeth the Great, and enter a new Carolean Age, and I feel sure our product will remain as cherished as it ever has been. We are naturally very proud that the King Charles is a Member of this Worshipful Company, hence why we toast him at Company events as ‘Citizen and Brewer’. Few have done more to champion the pub, through his Pub is the Hub initiative, or to support local breweries over the years.”

He concluded with some words of wisdom: “…however sombre the times we live in, I always find solace in the words of Benjamin Franklin: ‘God made beer because he loves us and wants us to be happy.’”