50 years ago, the Carlsberg brewery in Northampton officially opened its doors. Since then, it is estimated that the brewery has produced 28 billion pints of beer. To mark the occasion, the National Lift Tower in the town was lit up in Carlsberg green.
The brewery was designed by Arup architects and was built for £15m. Construction involved diverting the River Nene to make space. The design was based on a Danish longboat and was praised for its expression of modern Danish architecture. Although the brutalist style was not universally adored, the building won architectural awards.
Brewing began in 1973, and the official opening was performed by Princess Benedikte of Denmark on 10 May 1974. Since then, the brewery has grown and expanded, and now employs around 230 people. In 2013, a major expansion increased beer production by a third. The brewery also runs an engineering apprenticeship scheme, which helps to train new recruits to the industry.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary, a time capsule containing historic and modern items from the brewery was buried in a ceremony. The instructions for the capsule’s opening will mark the brewery’s centenary. In addition, staff are organising an abseil down the National Lift Tower to mark the 50th anniversary of Northampton Hope Centre.
Jacob Aarup-Andersen, the chief executive of Carlsberg Group, said, “As the first brewery Carlsberg built outside of Denmark in Europe, the Carlsberg Brewery in Northampton holds a special place in our history.” Carlsberg was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1847 and is known for its famous “If Carlsberg did…” advertising slogan.
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