Mitchell And Butlers Brewery
I was born and bred in Smethwick, my nan lived on Windmill Lane where i spent most of my time as my mum was a barmaid at the Cape of Good Hope pub opposite the Mitchell and Butlers Brewery, it's now a Macdonalds. Whilst working there she was spotted by the bosses from the brewery, who drank in there, and was asked to do an advert for TV. She went onto become Miss Brew X! She appeared on TV about 8 times a night, delivering a pint over the bar to a voiceover of 'Brew X - a pint of the Midlands!'. Does anyone remember this advert from the late 1960s or early 1970s? I remember Mrs Ingram's shop on Windmill Lane and the circus every year in Victoria Park. We moved to Bearwood to run the New Talbot pub, it was the 'in place' in the early 1970s, does anyone remember going to the Chalet on a Friday night? Happy days... I live in Warwickshire now but often pop back to Smethwick to have a look, it always makes me cry when I go past the brewery in Cape Hill and it is no longer there, I still can't believe they knocked it down, nI ever will. I used to go there with my dad to the private bar sometimes, it was all flocked wallpaper and men in suits, no women and very secretive, like being inside Willy Wonka's factory! I had to sit in a corner and not make a sound but I will never forget those visits, I have no idea why we went there but I knew it was a special place.
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RE: RE: Mitchell And Butlers Brewery
Mitchells & Butlers was part of Smethwck life, it's a pity it's been airbrushed out by the powers that be, wasn't William Butler one of the founders of Birmingham University? And I am fairly sure there have been a lot of historical and great inventions that have originated out of Smethwick, and of course the beer, it's very sad that nothing is safe from the wrecking ball. As I haven't been back to Smethwick for 20 years I don't expect I would know the place any more. I hear Windmill Lane market is no more, as I live in Scotland and am a Butler too (that was my maiden name) it's like losing an old friend, my sister worked at M & B and maintained it was a good employer to the local community also.
Comment from PATRICIA TAYLOR on Tuesday, 28th December 2010.
RE: RE: Mitchell And Butlers Brewery
Hi, i enjoyed your article. I was in the Brewery Club the night they filmed the advert with your mother. They filmed many takes and after every one they gave the beer away for everyone in there to drink, what a night. I worked at the brewery for years, earned plenty of money and spent most of it in The Chalet. The private bar in the brewery was called Buntys, another place where I had many great times. I agree it's sad to go past there now it's all gone, I live in Tenerife but still come back once a year to visit, and it all looks so different now. Thanks for the memories. Mike.
Comment from Michael Lewis on Wednesday, 24th August 2011.