In 1759, Arthur Guinness made one of the strangest business moves in brewing history. He took over a small, unused brewery at St. James’s Gate in Dublin and signed a lease that ran for 9,000 years, at only £45 a year. At the time, it probably looked like a bold gamble. The site was not yet the home of a global drink, just a modest brewery with a very long future written into its paperwork.
Arthur first brewed ales, but Guinness later became famous for its dark porter and stout. The business kept growing through the 1800s, helped by better brewing methods, strong branding, exports, and the work of the Guinness family after Arthur. By the late 19th century, St. James’s Gate had become one of the largest brewing operations in the world, turning a small Dublin lease into an empire built around a black pint with a creamy head.
The funny part is that the famous 9,000-year lease became almost as legendary as the drink itself. Guinness later expanded and purchased much of the land, so the lease is more of a historic symbol than a simple active rental agreement today. Still, the story remains perfect: a man rented a brewery for 9,000 years, and somehow, the business actually lived up to the confidence.
#drthehistories
Rachel Reeves should urgently u-turn on her disastrous Pubs Tax. It's another bad decision, made without thinking through the consequences.
Business rates will rise by 76% for the average pub, costing thousands of pounds and putting pubs and high streets at risk.
The @Conservatives have a clear plan to reduce the benefits bill and scrap business rates for thousands of pubs, shops and restaurants.
@Dudley_WAF Ok thanks and it’s ok. Looking forward to coming tomorrow! I would but unfortunately I haven’t got the funds to do but only on the day! 😀😀😀🍺🍺🍺🍺
All the beers and ciders now up on stillage, tapped and cooling, ready for @Dudley_WAF to open in #Dudley Town Hall (@BoroughHalls) on Thursday, November 27 at 1pm. Tickets still available on the door and in advance.
🔍 The Treasury have said that pubs will get a 'lower tax rate' because of business rates reforms for England in the Budget. We now need to see the details.
📢 We also need the Chancellor to cut VAT and ease employer national insurance contributions.
👉 https://t.co/Mc6tKdqjwV
Following a spring dominated by high pressure, this June has been dominated by low pressure and the weather this weekend will continue in the same vein
Find out more with Aidan👇
I’m calling on my MP @catecclesstour to back Long Live The Local. Pubs and breweries need our support! Sign today at https://t.co/PXuHNkN6L2 #longlivethelocal
Sedgley is home to Sarah Hughes Brewery's Dark Ruby Mild - @CAMRAWestMids champion beer for 2024 - and the @DudleyCAMRA Mild in May trail starts from its home at @BeaconHotel on Saturday, May 10 at 12 noon.
I’m calling on my MP @catecclesstour to back Long Live The Local. Pubs and breweries need our support! Sign today at https://t.co/PXuHNkN6L2 #longlivethelocal
When will sunny weather return? 🌦️
Unsettled conditions will dominate over the Easter weekend before more settled conditions later next week.
Watch our latest 10 Day Trend with Alex to find out more ⤵️