Jennings Brewery

Using Lake District water, drawn fresh from our on site well, our beer is a living embodiment of our majestic surroundings and time honoured brewing tradition. The Award winning Snecklifter, Cocker Hoop and Cumberland Ales await you in our on site tap room and, if you want to learn more, you can book one of our tours too.

Jennings’ recent history is a story of local revival. In 2025 the brewery opened again, returning to local, independent, family ownership after two decades as a brand of Carlsberg that ultimately suffered closure in 2019. Closure was devastating for the town, but brewing is returning to the historic site in Cockermouth, Cumbria and we are beginning the long journey back to becoming a cherished Cumbrian icon! There’s lots of work to do to restore the full former glory, but a small passionate team around is focused on bringing that heritage back to life.

Originally, the Brewery was founded in 1828, in Lorton by John Jennings Senior. His son was also involved in operating the brewery and it was were later passed on to the 3 grandsons after Jennings Sr. died.

Their success meant expansion so, when Jennings outgrew the Lorton brewery, they purchased the existing site in Cockermouth in 1874. The Lorton brewery continued until 1881when brewing shifted entirely to the Cockermouth site.

The brewery is now there again, at the foot of Cockermouth Castle, surrounded by the River Derwent and the River Cocker. This water source is integral to our brewing, as our water is drawn direct from the castle well. This pure, Lakeland water, is considered our secret ingredient and gives Jennings beer its distinctive Cumberland flavour.

In 1887, the brewery went from being a family-owned business into a public limited company, which the enthusiastic locals bought shares of, meaning that when the last member of the Jennings family died, Jennings kept its local identity for the next 100 years.

Jennings won multiple beer awards across the years, from organisations including World Beer Awards, CAMRA and The International Beer Challenge. Beers such as, Cumberland, Sneck Lifter and Cocker Hoop were amongst those that were popular winners. In 1999 Cocker Hoop received title of ‘Britain’s Best Bitter’ at the Great British Beer festival.

In 2009, the Cockermouth floods had a huge impact on the business and the site, forcing Marston’s to implement flood safety features and barricades throughout the site. A few short years after the floods, brewing transferred out of the town and a mass rebrand occurred

The year of 2020 brought more change for Jennings as it became part of the Carlsberg group, following the merger of Carlsberg and Marston’s. The Covid pandemic then hit, brewing stopped and the brewery closed its doors in November 2022 ending 194 years of brewing.

But the story wasn’t finished. We’re now back, brewing incredible beer, with Lake District water and recipes direct from that 200 year heritage. We’d love you to be part of the comeback…