About Us

In 1881, the Wrexham Lager Beer Company Limited was established in Wrexham, a town known for its outstanding water quality and a plethora of breweries, of which Wrexham Lager was the pioneer. The founders, German immigrants Ivan Levinstein and Otto Isler, aimed to replicate their native lager. They chose a hillside location for its natural insulation and proximity to the River Gwenfro, a water source vital to their brewing process. Despite this, maintaining the right brewing temperature proved challenging, and the lager’s quality suffered. Consequently, the company declared voluntary liquidation in 1886 due to financial woes.

Robert Graesser, a fellow German immigrant and local chemical plant owner, then purchased a significant share of the company. He introduced mechanical refrigeration, which he’d demonstrated at his chemical plant, to keep the brewery cellars at -1°C. Regardless, local sales languished as Wrexham residents had a preference for ale. In 1892, the brewery went bankrupt. Undeterred, Graesser reestablished the brewery, focusing on exporting, primarily via railways such as the Great Western Railway, shipping lines including Cunard and White Star Line, and supplying the British Army. This strategy yielded success, with Wrexham Lager reaching as far as Khartoum by 1898.

Local sales, however, remained poor until 1922 when the brewery acquired the Cross Foxes public house in Wrexham (An original window is in the function room of the Lager Club – see picture). The acquisition of tied houses from defunct breweries further expanded its portfolio to 23 pubs, thereby boosting local sales. Despite the initial success, the export market collapsed during World War II and was challenging to regain post-war. Increasing debts led to a takeover by Ind Coope of Burton upon Trent.

As lager’s popularity surged post-war, domestic sales increased. Ind Coope injected £2.5million for modernisation in the early 1960s. The brewery later merged with Ansells and Tetley Walker, forming Allied Breweries, Britain’s largest brewing group at the time.

The popular lager left a significant cultural impact, even sponsoring the local football team, Wrexham A.F.C., whose fans still cheer the team on with chants themed around Wrexham Lager.

During Wrexham Football Club’s difficulties, the Lager Club provided a venue for many meetings until the ground’s future was secured.

In 1992, Allied Breweries merged with Carlsberg to form Carlsberg-Tetley, which managed the brewery until its closure. Brewing of Wrexham Lager relocated to Leeds in 2000, continuing for two years before finally ceasing in 2002. Attempts to salvage the brewery failed, and the site was eventually transformed into a retail park.

A local MP bought the original name for £1 in 2001. Local activists hoped brewing could be revived there. This dream was shared by local businessmen Mark and Vaughan Roberts who, in 2010, expressed an interest in reviving the brand. After negotiating brand rights with Martyn Jones and securing the original ingredients, they relaunched the lager.

By 2012, they had sold 1.3 million pints of the revived lager, a figure boosted by the anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking, an event that sparked a belief that Wrexham Lager had been sold onboard due to the original firm’s contract with the White Star Line. The demand led to plans for a tenfold increase in production, targeting the sale of 13 million pints within five years.

Only two buildings remain from the original brewery, the iconic offices which feature on the logo and the Wrexham Lager Club which has been serving quality lagers to generations of Wrexham people.

Wrexham Lager Club is keen to welcome visitors from all over the world, we have many friends from the US as well as customers from Norway, Hungary, Australia to name just a few.

Legacy and Lager at Wrexham

The Wrexham Lager Club, a beacon of tradition, offers a rich blend of history, sport, and community spirit.

Enjoy a diverse selection of quality beers, friendly banter, and live sports, or host events in our spacious function room. It’s where Wrexham’s heritage comes alive.

Immerse yourself in the rich heritage of the Wrexham Lager Club. A part of Wrexham's historic lager brewery, every visit is a step back in time and a toast to tradition.