Important Brewery Combine – Whitworth’s Purchase of Nicholson Bros

December 1905

Mexborough and Swinton Times, 30 December 1905

Important Brewery Combine
Enterprise by Whitworth’s Son and Nephew, Ltd., of Wath.
Purchase of Nicholson Bros., Ltd, of Conisborough.

Negotiations for the purchase of the old established business of Messrs. Nicholson Bros., Ltd., Malsters and brewers, of Conisborough, by Mr J. H. Kelly, the enterprising managing director of the equally successful and old established firm of Messrs. Whitworth, Son and nephew, Ltd. of Wath on Dearne, have just been concluded, and the announcement, will, doubtless, come as a big surprise to the majority of our readers.

Various rumours have been afloat during the week to the effect that Mr Kelly had acquired the stupendous undertaking of Messrs. Nicholson, Bros., but these were couched in terms accompanied by a remark to the effect that the matter was not to become public property.

We have, however, authority to state that the negotiations, which have been proceeding for some little time between Mr Kelly and Messrs. Nicholson Bros., Ltd., Have at length being practically completed, and that on behalf of the Wath Brewery, Mr Kelly has acquired the entire undertaking lock, stock, and barrel of Messrs Nicholson Bros, Ltd. We understand that the number of public houses and beer licences, which will eventually change hands by the transaction is between 40 and 50 in addition to the Holywell brewery and malt kilns at Conisborough.

Prior to the above purchase Messrs. Whitworth’s son and nephew, owned all the licensed houses in Wath, with the exception of five. They now own all with the exception of two, namely, the “Saracens head,” and the “George and Dragon.” The houses in Wath and West Melton respectively included in the sale are “the New Inn,” occupied by Mr Wilford Winstanley, the “Manvers Main Inn,” occupied by Mr John Comer and “Crown Inn,” occupied by Mrs Hepworth.

The houses in Mexborough (in addition to those which already belong to the Wath firm) which will eventually be owned or taken over by Messrs. Whitworth and C0. are; the Royal Oak, Red Lion, Golden Flitch, and George and Dragon.

Conisborough: Star Inn, Red Lion, Alma, and Station Hotel.

Swinton: – Woodman Inn;

Kilnhurst: Commercial Inn and Station Inn.

Also licensed houses in Doncaster, Barnby Dun, Haxey, Thorne, Hatfield, Crowle, Epworth,, Bawtry, Tickhill, Braithwell, Rawmarsh, Greasebrough, and Wadworth.

Many of the tenants have already received formal notice of the change of ownership.

About two years ago Mr Kelly, on behalf of his firm, acquired the undertaking of Messrs. Marrian and Co. of Sheffield. Messrs. Whitworth, Son and Nephew, have ample facilities for dealing with the trade of their old and new undertakings, and with business tact and ability process by their genial managing director, backed by an energetic secretary, and board of directors, we feel confident the public will have no cause to regret the enterprise display by the progressive movement of Mr Kelly on behalf of the firm of Messrs. Whitworth, Son And Nephew, Ltd