Robinsons Brewery marks 150 years of the Royal Scot pub

Stockport family-run brewer, Robinsons Brewery, has marked 150 years since the purchase of its first pub, the Royal Scot in Marple Bridge.

Purchased by the brewery’s founder, Frederic Robinson in 1876 when it was known as The Railway Inn, the move laid the foundations for what would become a thriving pub company with over 250 locations across the North West and North Wales.

Before it carried its current name, the pub’s identity was tied closely to its surroundings. The Railway Inn’s name reflected its proximity to the Marple station, but in the 1930s, it was time for a new era. The original pub building was demolished and rebuilt, and with its new look came a new name: the Royal Scot – inspired by the iconic train route running from London to Glasgow along the West Coast Main Line.

As the years went on, Robinsons Brewery expanded across Manchester and the surrounding areas, acquiring pubs that would become cornerstones of their communities, as well as purchasing other breweries and off-licences across the North West. One of the most significant moments came with the purchase of Bell’s, which brought over 150 public houses and off?licences into the portfolio – which was almost double the brewery’s estate at the time.

Fast?forward to today, and that early ambition continues to shape Robinsons Brewery. Its Pub Partnership model paved the way for the development of the Managed Pub division, strengthening its commitment to great hospitality and memorable experiences.

The Royal Scot stands as a symbol of where it all began: a single pub that was the start of 150 years of growth. As Robinsons Brewery celebrates the anniversary of the Royal Scot, it also celebrates its history as a business and the relationships with its pubs that have got it to where it is today.