One of Lancaster’s oldest family-owned pub and brewery groups has gone into administration, taking another local brewer with it.
Mitchell’s of Lancaster was founded in 1871 by William Mitchell after he signed a lease on the Black Horse Inn. It has remained a family business for 140 years and has a pubs portfolio that include Fibbers, the Duke of Rothesay, the Old Hall and the Tithe Barn.
York Brewery, which was bought by Mitchell’s in December 2008, was also placed in administration. It was founded in 1996, becoming the first brewery within the city walls for 40 years, and now runs four pubs: the Last Drop Inn, Mr Foley’s Tap House, the Three Legged Mare and The Yorkshire Terrier.
Steven Muncaster and Sarah Bell, of