Beer Houses
Public
houses before 1830 were either inns or taverns - the key
difference being that in an inn you could sleep as well as eat and
drink. Most publicans strived to gain inn status for this allowed them
to remain open as long as a bed was empty and simple victuals were
offered to any lawful visitor or traveller. The established inns and
taverns faced more competition from the abundance of beer
houses
springing up after 1830. The beer houses were generally private dwellings
with one or two rooms converted following the controversial Duke of
Wellington's Beerhouse Act of 1830. The Act, designed to curb the rise
of gin consumption and to bypass local magistrates legislation, allowed
any householder or ratepayer, on payment of two guineas to the Excise,
to sell beer and cider from their property. The Act was pushed through
by Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, before he was ousted from
Downing Street. It was in response to increased agitation over the 200
year-old licensing laws which were seen as archaic. However, the issue
was to remain a political hot potato for the rest of the 19th century.
Many of the new beer houses throughout the land named their pubs in
honour of the Iron Duke. Their pub signs tended to display Wellington in
his military roles and often celebrated his battle achievements that had
captured the imagination of the public. However, more often than not,
the new publicans were showing appreciation to the man who had helped
them set up in business. Although many beer houses
were eradicated under later legislation, many survived and
evolved into fully licensed premises. By 1890 almost half of
Birmingham's 2,178 public houses were beer houses. The local magistrates
determined to regain control by issuing full licences to acceptable
houses whilst refusing to renew licences of disreputable joints.