January 2015 – Charles Dent, who for the past 22 years has been at the helm of Timothy Taylor’s brewery, has stepped down as Managing Director. He has been succeeded by Tim Dewey who took over as Chief Executive at the beginning of December.
Charles joined the company full time in 1992 and, following the retirement of his father-in-law, Lord Ingrow, in 1995, has overseen a period of unprecedented success with sales of its beers more than doubling from 26,000 barrels in 1990 to nearly 60,000 today. During that time Landlord, the brewery’s flagship beer, has also become established as a genuine national brand and remains the brewing industry’s biggest single award winner. This includes the unique distinction of being the first beer to hold CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain and the Brewing Industry International Awards Supreme Champion simultaneously (1999-2000).
In the last 15 years, to meet demand, the brewery has been totally transformed into an efficient, state-of-the-art production facility that has secured the future of brewing at Knowle Spring. The modernisation has, however, not compromised the company’s ability to brew quality beers, with Charles and Head Brewer Peter Eells insisting on using only the very finest ingredients and maintaining the traditional brewing practices established by their predecessors.
Paying tribute to Charles Tim Dewey said: ‘Timothy Taylor owes Charles Dent a huge debt of gratitude. Thanks to his father-in-law he inherited a financially sound company with a great range of English cask ales. He has built on that legacy and through his drive and commitment Taylor’s has gone from strength to strength. It is now in an excellent position to face the future with complete confidence.’
He added: ‘It is a very exciting time to be joining Timothy Taylor’s with Boltmaker recently winning CAMRA Supreme Champion Beer of Britain and the brewery itself fully geared up to meet any future increase in demand. I am looking forward to taking the business onto the next stage in its development but, I have to say, I have a tough act to follow.’
For Charles, however, it is not a final goodbye as he has now taken over as Non-Executive Chairman from Nigel Bankes who retired at the company’s Annual General Meeting in December.
Photo Caption: Jane & Tim Dewey, Nigel Bankes and Charles & Annie Dent
