A trip down memory lane

25 years ago Richard Scragg and Helen Teasdale bought the current Springhead Brewery site on Main Street in Laneham from long-term resident, Robin Minnitt. Historically the buildings had been used as the Minnitts family home, a mill, a bakery and a grocery shop. Richard went on to use the main buildings as a mill for his organic animal feed firm, Optivite, but after selling the business in 2009 new life was breathed into the site when Richard and Helen moved their thriving microbrewery from Sutton on Trent to Laneham in 2011.

A large brewery and tap bar were established, with some offices in the old Victorian house, but it was in need of renovation. Robin had been very disheartened to see it in such a sorry state and since the Butcher’s Arms public house had closed felt there was no meeting place for the locals. This has now changed however and the old house is fully open as a cosy and atmospheric craft pub, The Bees Knees. The emphasis is very much on quality homemade food using the best locally sourced ingredients, craft beers, ciders and lager, plus a commendable wine list. The rooms of the pub each feel a bit different in terms of decor and provide a welcoming place to visit either on your own or with friends. Manager David Anderson guarantees a warm welcome and encourages visitors to partake in the traditional pub games on offer or have a tinkle on the piano. This pub is very much about providing a heart for the community.

Recently Robin Minnitt and six members of his family visited Springhead Brewery, Meg’s bar- the brewery tap, and The Bees Knees, to have a nostalgic look around. Richard Scragg states’’ It was an absolute pleasure to show the Minnitts how we have developed the site and share our thoughts for the future. We enjoyed hearing from each family member how each room in The Bees Knees had been used and comparing it to its current use’’.

Several old pictures of Laneham are used to decorate the walls of The Bees Knees and one shows the frontage of the pub when it was a grocery store belonging to Bernard A Minnitt, the father of Robin and his three brothers and one sister (all of whom are still alive!).

One interesting fact that came out of the visit was that William Minnitt (now known as Diz) had been a key member of the popular band Marillion and used the original mill building which is the now the brewery itself to rehearse with Fish (who at that time was known as Derek Dick).

The two met when Fish replied to an advert in Musicians Only for a vocalist in the embarrassingly named Stone Dome Band. Diz and Fish communicated via phone calls and Fish sent a tape of Blewitt (the covers band he had been in with Frank Usher – who is still his guitarist with the solo material). He came down for an audition in mid 1980 and having passed with flying colours he returned to Scotland to collect his belongings and moved in to live with Diz at his parents’ house, Brough House in Church Laneham. The original version of The Web plus another song that has never been profesiionally recorded, called Eyes in The Sand, and were first recorded with a stereo tape deck in the mill building.
The joining of Marillion by Fish and Diz came about when Diz phoned up Mick Pointer (the original drummer in Marillion) in response to an advert in Musicians Only for a Bass Player / Vocalist, and convinced him that really he wanted one of each rather than a combined role.

After exchanging telephone calls and tapes they moved down to Aylesbury on 2nd January 1981 and following a brief audition joined the band.

Related posts

SCHÄFER: Made to measure

SCHÄFER Container Systems offers individual KEG types for the Italian craft brewing scene Neunkirchen,...

Exmoor Gold Is 30!

The Golden Ale that started a trend and made beer history celebrates its 30th...

Does Size Matter?

Not according to CNG Engineering! The Pontefract based engineering firm has recently completed a...

Wood's bottle a Beauty!

Wood Brewery is launching a bottled version of Shropshire Hills Beauty, its increasingly popular...

Tiny but Mighty

Padstow Brewing Company beat off strong competition from Regional and National brewers to win...

Blind Mans Buffet

First things first… Some of you may have heard along the grapevine that we’re...

New CEO for the IBD

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am pleased to announce the appointment...

Welbeck Abbey News

Here at Welbeck Abbey Brewery we’re elated to announce that our first pub ‘The...

Willowbrook Arises

Castle Rock’s Willowbrook pub in Gedling, Nottinghamshire, reopens today – Thursday 2 July.  It has...

SIBA launches Beerflex

Direct Delivery Scheme evolves in response to growing demand for quality independent beers The...

Robert Humphreys awarded MBE

All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group and SIBA praise his achievements Robert Humphreys, formerly the Honorary...

Pass it On

From mother to daughter, father to son, teacher to pupil; passing on knowledge and...

The Half Pint Marathon

A collaboration between Thornbridge Brewery and Forum Cafe Bars LTD will have you reaching...

Punch delivers profits

By James Wallin, M&C Report, 22-Apr-2015 Punch Taverns has reported a 0.5% rise in...

SIBA BeerX 2015 photos

Festival of Beer   Trade days   National Beer Competitions   SIBA Business Awards...

The Eagle prepares to fly

Truman’s doubles production capacity through half million pound investment Truman’s – East London’s beer...

A Flourishing Friendship

The Friendship pub, Glossop, has reopened following a complete transformation courtesy of Robinsons Brewery...

How Golden Duck Brewery found the Commons touch

How Golden Duck Brewery found the Commons touch Read more at http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Beerhunter-Golden-Duck-Brewery-Commons-touch/story-25953732-detail/story.html#BXg7BAIdhJB0bpPU.99

Top of the hops

S J Adams & Son wins the British Hop Award 2014 Worcestershire based hop...

SIBA BeerX Festival of Beer

SIBA BeerX 2015 @siba_beerx #BeerX2015 facebook link National Beer Competitions finalists and results See...

SIBA BeerX 2015

SIBA BeerX 2015 National Beer Competitions finalists and results. @siba_beerx #BeerX2015 facebook link. BeerX...

Oyez to Old Henry

Two rather jolly characters are celebrating being awarded a gold and bronze regional award...

SIBA supports Tryanuary

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) is supporting Tryanuary, the new initiative that encourages...

Eighty Shilling

The Rebel Brewing Company based in Penryn Cornwall, firmly secured their place in Cornish...

FDEA Network Forum

The UK’s dedicated trade association for food and drink exporters is proud to present...

SIBA to stage third BeerX

Celebration of beer returns to Sheffield The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) is returning...

Beer sales increase is great news for Burton

Beer sales increase is great news for Burton Read more: http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/BREWING-Beer-sales-increase-great-news-Burton/story-24471610-detail/story.html#ixzz3IfPHqQzw Follow us: @BurtonMailNews on Twitter...

Reuben does a runner

Reuben Crouch, General Manager at Ludlow Food Centre for the past seven and a...

The Return of Ben Truman

1st anniversary of Truman’s return to East London brewing Truman’s has celebrated the first...

Untitled

Elgood’s Brewery Beer Festival Local Beers, Food, Music and a chance to be filmed...

Evolution On Line for Beer

Evolution Bottling and Packaging Solutions are delighted to have joined SIBA. Evolution BPS provide...

British Hop Harvest 2014

When: throughout September The British Hop harvest is dramatic, noisy, frenetic and does not...

NZPA Flies Home

Hawkshead Brewery, known in Britain, for brewing big flavoured beers with New Zealand hops,...

Untitled

SIBA South East Region Beer Competition 2014 DATE OF JUDGING & ANNOUNCEMENT           11th July...

SIBA East Meeting

MEMBERS ONLY Location: Charters Arm, Town Bridge, Peterborough, PE1 1FP Time: 13:30

Hop & Malt Seminar

BFBi is pleased to announce the Hop & Malt Seminar, being held on Tuesday...

Blonde gets Gold.

Dawkins Bristol Blonde crowned Champion standard bitter and third overall out of 270 beers....

Judi Hughes

Acorn Brewery is saddened to announce the death of co-founder and director Judi Hughes...

Bottlesafe Air

Over the past three years inspirepac have been supporting SIBA members with gift packs...

Wood's head brewer retires

Paul Benson, head brewer at Wood’s, the award-winning South Shropshire brewery at Wistanstow, Craven...

SIBA East Region Meeting

SIBA MEMBERS ONLY Venue:  Haymaker,54 High Street, Chesterton, CB4 1NG Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Time:  13:00...

Maxim Brewery

Following on from Sunderland Football clubs recent successes on the pitch – Maxim Brewery...

A-wards and up-wards!

Eight Design Effectiveness Awards in three years At the 2014 Design Effectiveness Awards, Leeds-based...

SIBA South Keg Beer Competition

BY INVITATION ONLY Location – Tulleys Farm, Turners Hill Road, Turners Hill, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 4PE Time – TBC

SIBA Council Meeting

COUNCIL MEMBERS ONLY Location – National Brewery Centre, Staffs. Time – 9am

SIBA Council Meeting

MEMBERS ONLY Location – National Brewery Centre, Burton-on-Trent, Staffs. Time – 9am  

SIBA Toolbox

Members: Please make sure that you are using the link http://toolbox.siba.co.uk/ to get to...

Peter Austin

Ringwood today announced the passing of brewery founder, Peter Austin on 1st January. To...

A Hart-felt farewell

Gillian Tyrrell of The White Hart, Hazel Grove, has announced her retirement after a...

Untitled

To All SIBA Members BFBi have been working on Craft Brewers Conference and are...

Beer goes to Brussels

EVERCREECH’S Wild Beer Co took some of their ales to Brussels at the request...

Trooper Invades London

Robinsons Brewery in Stockport have announced that they will launch a London based billboard...

Brewery for Auction.

On behalf of Cains Brewery, Moody Auctions offer for sale by online auction complete...

Beer Grotto!

Exeter residents, upon seeing two rather overgrown elves rolling a pub-load of beer into...

Gold Does the Double

Our hand crafted ale, Gold has won Gold Medal for best overall bottled beer...

Untitled

SIBA Midlands Region Beer Competition 2013          DATE   OF JUDGING & ANNOUNCEMENT      10th October 2013...

Gold for The Barrels

We are very proud to announce that Wye Valley Brewery’s flagship pub, The Barrels,...

New film from SIBA

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has produced a new film, ‘Building the Future...

Silver cup to set barrel rolling at championships

Taken from:  http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Silver-cup-to-set-barrel-rolling-at-championships-20130819145431.htm Burtonians taking part in this year’s barrel rolling championships will get...

Let There Be Beer

Whatever else you’re doing tomorrow, Saturday 29th June,  make sure you tune into SKY...

SIBA National Emails

SIBA National (Trade Association) emails will be down for maintenance from 16:00 today This includes...

SIBA East Region Meeting

SIBA MEMBERS ONLY Venue: Charters Bar, Town Bridge, Peterborough, PE1 1FP  http://www.oakagroup.com/charters/contacts.asp Time: 12:00

Keith Greener

Keith Greener,Spares and Service Manager from Microdat sadly passed away from pneumonia on 30th...

Birmingham Beer Bash

We’re pleased to announce the launch of Birmingham Beer Bash, a brand new festival...

Four weeks to go!

The closing date for entries to the Sainsbury’s 2013 Great British Beer Hunt is...

Cyclops Beer Live

Onsite Cyclops testing at SIBA’s BeerX on 15th March Cyclops Beer is bringing its...

The Judges Judged

Real ale drinkers, supping alongside fellow judges Lilian Greenwood MP, Robin Hood aka Tim...

It's Phil's Ale

Early one cold morning in January about a dozen members of the local CAMRA...

Beer and Dolphins Unite

A unique partnership between a brewery and an international wildlife charity is launched on...

Got a Cold? Have a Beer.

Sapporo Breweries-backed study shows that beer contains chemicals that could counter colds As the...

SIBA Emails

Dear SIBA Members We are currently experiencing technical problems when receiving emails and therefore...
Top