CRICKETERS ARMS 

34 Carlton Place

AKA Carlton Brewery

Brewing started                       1844

Brewing ceased                      Circa 1866

Walter Cocks was licensee here between 1845 and 1855, and he also brewed on the premises which were sometimes known as the Carlton Brewery. Newspapers variously refer to Walter ‘Cocks’ and ‘Cox’.

The first mention that I find is in the Hampshire Advertiser of 7th December 1844, when W Cocks of the Carlton brewery Carlton Terrace Southampton announces that he had established the above brewery for the purpose of supplying genuine home brewed beer which could be obtained on the premises, wholesale and retail. He listed Burton, Scotch, East India Pale Ale, London & Dublin Porter and Stout bottled in first rate condition.

The 1845 PO Street Directory lists William Cocks as a brewer at the Cricketers Arms Bedford Place, and thereafter he is shown at 26 Carlton Place until 1849.

The Hampshire Advertiser of 2nd September 1848 reports on the Southampton Special Sessions for granting Innkeeper licences. The application was by Mr Cox. His barrister said that the house (the Cricketer's Arms) was at present a beer-shop, and a brewery. Cox himself was for some time manager of the Star Hotel, and he was afterwards an innkeeper at Winchester, and it was no small recommendation that his wife had been cook at Winchester College. The barrister said that as to the man's ale, ‘why it was really admirable’. Reference was then made to the case of Mr Loosemore the previous week, when “that very earnest man spoke in enthusiastic terms of his ale”. One of the magistrates said that they had only his own word in proof of this, but in the present case, the Barrister had actually tasted the ale brewed by Mr Cox in his cellar, and “really it was admirable. The man, in fact, was celebrated for his prime home brewed ale.” (Loosemore was at Loosemore’s Hotel, see the separate page.)  

The last Directory entry as a brewer appears in 1851, when he is still a brewer and inn keeper at the Cricketers Arms. From 1853 until 1861, he is a publican here. However, he retired in 1858, as we see in the Hampshire Advertiser of 3rd April 1858 a notice saying: “To be disposed of a 3 quarter brewery in excellent working order (about 430 gallons each brew). “Due to retirement.” The sale included a good spirit bar, about 80 hogsheads of prime ale and a small quantity of spirits. Also 13 vats from 6 to 20 hogsheads each, stock and fixtures at valuation. This was a sale of the Lease, with 7 years unexpired. Apply William Cocks, Carlton Brewery Bedford Place.

I believe there was no sale, and the beershop/brewery was instead let. The Hampshire Independent of 22nd June 1861 (10 years later) announces an auction of the Cricketers Brewery Bedford Place, being a capital three Quarter brewery, plant etc. The sale was to be at the brewery, by order of Mr Cocks (the premises being let to Thomas Eyles), and comprising a 180 gallon Copper and discharging cock, three quarter mash tub, underback, 2 working squares and large liquor tank all lined with lead, (yes really!) a malt mill, force pump about 60 casks 2 Coolers, a pair of trucks, stillions, 5 quarters of excellent malt, and a pocket of hops etc.

Mr Cocks clearly owned the freehold or a long lease, and wanted to sell subject to the tenancy of Eyles. Newspapers of 8th June 1861 report on the transfer of the licence from “William Cox to Thomas Eyles”. In April 1862, a bottle was stolen from Mr Eyles. It was filled with water, and exchanged in another beerhouse for a pint of beer. The thief was “an old offender” and he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour. He had been loitering elsewhere to evade the Police, “sleeping in a pigsty during the night and robbing the adjoining gardens during the day”. (How punishments have changed!). 

Thomas Eyles was a ‘publican’ here from 1865 to 1869, and it is likely (although I have no direct evidence) that the business was acquired by Mr G F Good. In newspapers of 12th May 1866, there is a further notice of sale, under distraint for rent, at Carlton Place Southampton. The auction was to be on the premises of G F Good, brewer on 14th May, and included a quantity of malt, beer and other 

effects. It could be assumed he had taken a lease, defaulted on the rent and was being sued by the landlord, as no fixed plant or premises were being sold.

To confuse matters, Newspapers refer to a separate ‘Mr Cox’ at the Cricketers Arms, in Stoneham, as do directories in earlier years.