The Big Lamp Brewery has been in existence since 1982 and is the oldest micro brewery in the North East. It started when Tom Hanson, a keen mateur brewer, returned from a gap year. His brother Terry and some friends paid for the origional equipment. It was designed in referance to victorian books in Newcastle City Library. Origionaly part of Summerhill House, an 18th century building hidden in a yard near the Big Lamp area of Newcastle, was converted to an old fasioned “tower” brewery. Over the years it has slowly become a thriving and successful business. Its first brew was the ever popular Big Lamp Bitter in 1982 which was rewed for The Red House pun on the Quayside. The original shareholders were Norman Bell, John Tomlinson, Terry Hanson, Tom Hanson and Paul Needham (for a short time). Initially they brewed about 10 barrels per week, usually over the weekend. In 1986 the Big Lamp Off Licence was opened next to the Brewery to help sell some of the beers. The beers were also distributed through tied ouses such as the Oddfellows Arms in Haswell and the Wheatsheaf Inn in Felling. Other outlets were various Fitzgerald Pubs and other Freehouses (Cumberland Arms in Byker). Legendary Yorkshire Heroes and NORA also assisted with early distribution and helped to promote the real ale. In 1986 Terry Hanson took on the job as a full time brewer to keep up with the demand. Elizabeth Hanson is employed to run the Off Licence on a full time basis selling several beers being brewed Big Lamp Bitter, Old Genie and Big Lamp Blackout. The brewery realised its potential when the Prince Bishop Ale was commissioned for the Durham Beer Festival. In 1988, after much hard work and development, Terry returned to his original full time job of teaching. Big LampAfter a short period of managing the brewery amongst the existing shareholders, the responsibility of running the brewery and associated pubs fell to Lee Goulding and George Storey, now trading independently as the Big Lamp Brewers. Since 1989 George and Lee have dedicated all of their time to improving, expanding and developing the brewery and pubs. Now independently run by the Big Lamp Brewers, it supplies a wide range of traditionally brewed fine ales to public houses throughout the United Kingdom as well as supplying it's own pubs The Keelman which is situated next door and the Wheatsheaf in Felling. The Brewery moved to its current location in 1996. The building it now occupies was once a water pumping station servicing the village of Newburn. It had been closed down and out of service for many years and had subsequently become derelict. A brave decision was made to relocate the brewery to the run down site and at the same time try and save the listed building. The building was dismantled brick by brick, numbering each brick during the process to ensure that each brick was replaced in exactly the same place. The old water pumping station has been fully rebuilt and is now the home to the Big Lamp Brewery and the Keelman Pub. The brewery has expanded significantly over the years and now brews many regular and seasonal ales. If you want you can read more about the current premesis and the history of the Keelman Pub.