Main content

Simonds & Son: Reading's Beer Revolution

A special drama commissioned by Reading 2016 Year of Culture.

It's 1782 and William Blackall Simonds has just set up his brewery in Reading. The town's beer is so bad, people are complaining to Parliament.

A powerful cartel of brewers, who put takings before taste, control the town's pubs and beer prices. Can William Simonds outsmart them, and make his family's brewery one of the biggest in the country?

Simonds & Son: Reading's Beer Revolution was commissioned by Reading 2016 Year of Culture.

Written by Mike Walker

Produced by Chris Browning
Edited by Martin Strong and Duncan McLarty

CAST
Aidie Allen - The Landlady
Stephen Critchlow - William Simonds
Rebecca Hamilton - Elizabeth
Gerard Horan - 鈥淏ull鈥 Strode
George Watkins - Blackall Simonds

The producer would like to thank:
Raymond, David, Gavin and the entire Simonds family;
Reading 2016 Year of Culture;
Tony Corley

Release date:

Duration:

37 minutes