Flower Pot Inn, Red Bank. (c) Neil Richardson [1].
On Red Bank which sweeps into the northern city centre was the Flower Pot Inn, a Wilsons house, which in 1937 proudly advertised Wembley Ale (see here for a high resolution image of which view into town). Although Wilsons used this to good effect when supporting and celebrating Manchester City's 1934 FA Cup Final win, the name had nothing to do with football. Wilsons Mild Beer was abbreviated as 'WMB' and so was nicknamed Wembley. In 1932 it officially became Wilsons Wembley Ale and a couple of years later they went to town on the advertising campaign:
"If you can't get to Wembley, Let 'Wembley' come to you". Comedian Sydney Howard appeared in printed adverts and in a short film called "Up for t'Cup", saying: "Well lads - you were great at Wembley - as great as Wembley Ale is at home." Wilsons even built a new pub, the Wembley Arms, on Adswood Road in Stockport [1]. Now demolished, the short Wembley Close is a reminder of this once famous brewery and its Wembley Ale.
Wembley Arms, Adswood Road, Stockport. (c) Neil Richardson [1].
1. A History of Wilsons Brewery 1834-1984, Neil Richardson (1983).
My Grandad Charlie Larimer played the piano in the Flower Pot during the 40s and 50s
ReplyDeleteMy 4 x grandparents ran this pub in the mid 1800's x
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