Fentimans Sponsors Local Cyclists

Fentimans are sponsoring local cycle retailer, ActivCycles in Corbridge, Northumberland. ActivCyles have formed an impressive race team to take on the best cyclist in the country and are aiming high for success in 2008. Propietors Mark and Debbie Nye are delighted to receive sponsorship from Fentimans: "It's great having support from local businesses and as Fentimans md, Eldon Robson, is a keen local cyclist, he can make the most of the free kit too!"

Fentimans: Featured at the Cricketer's Arms

The Cricketer's Arms in Bedford have sent Fentimans some photographs showing how they are promoting Fentimans in the bar. Fentimans provided images of the bottles and information about the fonts used to make the Cricketer's Arms promotion as 'faithful to the original' as possible. The Cricketer's Arms 35 Goldington Road Bedford MK40 3LH

Ginger Beer at Christie's Charity Auction

Fentimans was pleased to support the Terrence Higgins Trust by donating some 125ml bottles of ginger beer for the goody bags which were distributed to the VIP guest list, following an auction at Christie's, King Street.

Fentimans at the Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath

Orlando, the head bar man at the Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath is a new fan of Fentimans. Recently awarded U.K. bar an of the year , he recommends Fentimans 125ml range, as he insists on mixing with the best!

Fentimans at St. Pancras

The newly refurbished St. Pancras railway station held a series of celebrations in December. As it has been celebrated as a superb example of Victorian engineering, so it seemed particularly fitting that Fentimans should be included as the refreshment of choice. Guests at the Victorian Gaming Night enjoyed Fentimans furtling beer mats, as did those at the Singles Night and Fentimans was served at the New Year's Eve Victorian Masked Ball.

FENTIMANS ENJOYS OVERSEAS SUCCESS

A recent article in our local paper, The Hexham Courant, celebrated Fentimans recent overseas growth, to countries such as Norway, Russia and Australia.

FENTIMANS FAN CREATES 'BURR DOG'

Professional sculptor, Ben Palmer, recently sent us a picture of a recent creation. He usually mkes an allegorical head of 'winter' from the seeds of burdock, which traditionally marks the beginning of the dark days and is then burnt in spring. This year, inspired by Fentimand Dandelion & Burdock and our log of Fearless the Alsation, he has created a rather different 'burr dog'!

FENTIMANS WINS HUMOROUS BEERMAT OF THE WEEK

Jack Blandiver's Diary in the local Somerset newspaper, the Wells Journal, is a favourite among readers. A recent visit to The Full Moon Pub resulted in his 'exposure' to the Fentimans furtling beer mats. He was delighted 'to discover that my favourite brand of obscure fizzy drinks is being advertised by corporate advertising people who have a sense of humour and a spark of creativity [...]marketing bods take note: this is the way to make people your friends."

The Stranglers & Fentimans On Tour

Jet Black of The Stranglers recently requested that some Fentimans VIctorian Lemonade was sent to his hotel in Germany while they were on tour. Now, The Stranglers receive regular supplies and can always take Fentimans on tour - next stop, Belgium!

Fentimans launch mixers at the Restaurant Show

Fentimans launched its range of mixers at the Restaurant Show, Earls Court, London. the worlds first range of botanically brewed mixers includes the already well-loved Fentimans Ginger Beer and Curiosity Cola in 125ml bottles, together with a brand new botanically brewed tonic water!

Fentimans at Waitrose Illustrated Party

Fentimans was the soft drink of choice at the Waitrose Illustrated celebrations held recently at the Chelsea Physic Garden. Many of the guests enjoyed 'straight' Fentimans, although some preferred to mix it with the Moet and enjoy a superior Buck's Fizz. For more pictures, go to the Fentimans gallery.

Native Americans' Refreshment of Choice?

ONe of Fentimans' customers, Alehouse (tel: 0845 0553 6293) does the catering for re-enactments across the country, so all participants, from Vikings to American Indians can be refreshed with Fentimans. Shouldn't this be an Indian Tonic though?

A CELEBRATION OF ALL THINGS GINGER

The National Botanic Garden of Wales held the country’s first ever Ginger Family Festival on Sunday 26th August. To celebrate the opening this summer of the stunning new Tropical House – which features many exotic examples of the Zingiberaceae plant family – the Garden will be held a festival dedicated to all things ginger. Of course, Fentimans Ginger Beer was a prominent part of the offering on this unique occasion. Senior horticulturist Jess Gould said: “There are 1,200 or so species of ginger and lots of them have aromatic oils which make them useful for culinary purposes. “Ginger has been used in cooking for 2,000 years – it’s been used by man for such a long time, no one now knows where the original wild species came from.” To broaden the appeal of Wales’ first ever Ginger Family Festival, the Garden will be offering free entry to anyone with ginger hair, although organisers warned that ‘wearers of comedy ginger wigs will not qualify’!

Fentimans Victorian Christmas on Board the Bluebell Railway

Fentimans will be the refreshment of choice among the lucky passengers on board the Bluebell Railway Victorian Christmas trains, running from Horsted Keynes to Kingscote on 23rd & 24th December. All the trains are over 100 years old, just like Fentimans, so they provide the perfect, authentic Victorian experience!

A Refreshing Success

Inform North, the north east's leading magazine for enterprise and change, interviewed Fentiman's Managing Director and Master Brewer, Eldon Robson:

"Re-establishing your great, great grandfather's soft drinks business would be daunting at the best of times but through dedication, hard work and inspiration Eldon Robson now sells his range of traditional brews to customers across the globe, as far afield as America, Japan and Russia"

In response to the question"What makes you think there is a market for your drinks", Eldon explained: "People are increasingly looking for more quality and there is a swing back to old-fashioned values. Judging by our consumer testimonials, there is a clearly a demand for soft drinks which are more than mundane, carbonated soft drinks... one customer described Fentiman's ginger beer as having a three-dimensional taste - that's what I'm always striving for and customer loyalty suggests it's working."

Land Rover & Fentiman's (the 'Rolls Royce of Soft Drinks')

Land Rover's One Life Magazine, the glossy brochure which promotes products of only the highest quality, proposes that Fentimans would be the beverage of choice to rehydrate 'after the hot sands of Surigahama Beach'. People flock to this beach from across the world to be buried up to their necks in black sand naturally heated through subterranean geothermal springs, so it acts like a sauna. Phew! A Fentiman's would be exactly what's required after that.

Fentiman's Refreshes Borders Book Audience

The Borders Bookstore in Brighton will be hosting two Hammett Story Agency evenings and by demand of the authors, Fentiman's will be the refreshment of choice. The first event is on Thursday, 16th November, when Fentiman's will be accompanied by short stories and poems by the acclaimed authors, Cathi Unsworth and Ben Murray. Admission Free!

On Friday 17th November, Matt Thorne and Martyn Waites will read short stories from their forthcoming anthologies. Live music on both evenings and tickets available from the Border Bookstore, Churchill Square, Brighton! (poster design: Leo Barnes)

Fentiman's Sponsors Flair Cocktail Competition

Are you a mover or a shaker? Do you have the bottle to compete against the world’s most talented Flair performers? The time has come for all flashy Flair enthusiasts to put their ‘money where their mouth is’ and test their skills on a world stage, taking on some of the toughest competition in the industry. On Friday the 20th of October 2006, flamboyant Flair bartenders from The Porterhouse; Daniel Duggan, Killian Healy and Andy Bailey, joined dazzling beauty Joyce Matemba to launch Flair 1, Ireland’s first ever international Flair cocktail competition. Flair 1 will take place in the world famous Lillie’s Bordello throughout the evenings of Wednesday and Thursday the 22nd and 23rd of November.

Fentimans will be among the sponsors who will showcase 32 Flair experts from across the globe, all ready to compete for the much-coveted title of Flair 1 Champion. Competitors include current UK Flair Champion, Tom Dyer, famous for his intricate and unique flair moves; colourful Flair performer South African Jay Dutoit; Dutch Flair Champion, Mike Breuker; as well as Hungarian Champion Szaboles Soros.

Try Some Technical Flair Moves!: Stall: to rest a bottle on any part of your body and keep it stationary for a minimum of four seconds. Helicopter: to grab the neck of the bottle, spin two and a half times horizontally and replicate the blades of a helicopter and catch. Column: to have two bottles in each hand, move them in a juggle formation with the two bottles moving parallel at all times. Thumb Roll: to move a bottle 360 degrees using only your thumb.

Fentiman's Appoint Official Taster of Dandelion & Burdock

Following our recent advertisement for an Official Dandelion & Burdock Taster – Northern Division, we have been overwhelmed by applications from eager Fentiman’s fans, willing to go to great lengths to take up this much coveted and prestigious position. A Mr Smith (we wonder if that is his real name?) is willing to throw away 20 years of marriage in order to re-locate and Steve from Nottingham claims that although he is only weeks away from completing his PhD thesis, he will jettison academia in favour of Fentimans.

We have carefully sifted through the torrent of responses and after careful consideration, and adopting a responsible attitude to our recruitment drive, we had to award the position of Official Dandelion & Burdock Taster to Nathan of Newquay, who, among other rather eccentric claims, listed his previous experience as 'curator of the award-winning 'Dandelion Infusion Collection' and 'author of a non-award winning masterpiece "Burdock, what is it?: the mystery unravelled".

Six cases of Fentiman's and a contract are on their way to Newquay!

Fearless in Manhattan

Fearless is across the pond enjoying a well-earned rest at one of New York's finest hotels, the Mandarin Oriental, where Fentimans is in hot demand.

However, such is the excitement about Fentimans in The United States and Canada, that he's hardly had a quiet moment.

Here's a family photo, taken on the balcony of his Manhattan hotel. You might be able to just make out the adoring crowds below....

Official Dandelion & Burdock Taster: New Appointment Announced at Fentimans!

Fentimans receives enthusiastic (even ecstatic) reviews all the time and we love the fact that our fans are so besotted with our beverages, that they want to work to further the cause, spread the word (well, it's almost evangelical, the degree of fervour our drinks appear to incite......).

One such fan is Mr Gary Lucas, who sent us an email the other day:

"Dear Sir/Madam,

I tasted your Dandelion and Burdock on Sunday and I was overwhelmed with joy at the taste - it is delicious!!! I instantly became transported through time to a point in my past where things still tasted of… things. And very nice things at that.

I am terribly disappointed that I have only just discovered your Dandelion & Burdock, as I have lost valuable quaffing time.

I am equally disappointed to find no vacancies at present, as the one I was hoping to apply for was “Head Of Dandelion & Burdock Tasting – Southern Division” If such a post becomes available please let me know.

Thank you for making something really great!!

Sincerely,

Gary Lucas"

So, we've appointed Mr Lucas our Honorary Dandelion & Burdock Taster (Southern Division) and he's agreed to waive a fee in exchange for some samples!

We're working on a job description over the weekend, so why not have a look at our 'vacancies' page next week - and see if you can win the coveted position of Official Dandelion & Burdock Taster - Northern Division?

Ginger Beer is Still Every Snail's Favourite Drink

"Albert the Third" is North East author Slim Palmer's third book about his hero, who closely resembles a snail (but apparently is most definitely an 'Albert'). Opposite a full page illlustration of a Fentimans ginger beer bottle, the story continues: "It's very good this beverage." observed Dr Quem, holding up his glass to the light, "What did you say it was?" "Ginger beer. Fentimans. It's the only one Albert will drink." "Because it's proper Ginger Beer." To buy "Albert the Third" and read more....log on to www.althought.com

Snails (and 'Alberts') certainly have a history of liking ginger beer, every since the landmark legal case Donoghue vs Stevenson (1932), during which a very determined Glasgow woman (May Donohoghue) hired a maverick lawyer, to make the claim against the soft drinks manufacturer (Stevenson, not Fentimans!) who she claimed was responsible for the dead snail she found at the bottom of a vat of ginger beer!

Discover Fentiman's at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta!

Fentiman's will be at the Discovery Channel Bristol Balloon Fiesta, from 10th - 13th Augustl. Last year's event was rated good or excellent by over 92% of visitors. Come and see what all the fuss is about and buy some refreshing Fentiman's - at Stand A22. For more information, visit www.bristolfiesta.co.uk

Fentiman's is "Pick of the Month"

Fentiman's recent advertising campaign has been picking up awards from several marketing and advertising publications, including 'pick of the month' in June's edition of Creative Review and July's Campaign Magazine. We have highlighted the irreverent side of Victorian life through our adverts for Ginger Beer, Dandelion & Burdock and Victorian Lemonade. Now look out for our take on Curiosity Cola.......

Shakespeare & Fentiman's in Japan:

Fentiman’s enjoyed an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response at the FoodEx in Tokyo last year, where the reaction from the Japanese trade was “subalashi” – fantastic! As a result, Fentiman’s can be found in many prestigious outlets, including the Sony Plaza in Ginza, the Hub, which has 70 bars in Tokyo and one of Japan’s most famous theme parks – the Shakespeare Country Park.

Fentiman’s Ginger Beer is particularly popular with those who flock to the Japanese home of the bard and Shakespeare would have no doubt approved of such traditional, somewhat irreverent refreshment.

Fentiman’s botanically-brewed beverages are also particularly popular in the Japanese pub trade, where punitive drink driving laws have fuelled demand for low alcohol drinks with real taste – the Fentimans range contains only 0.05% alcohol.

Fentiman's Adds Authenticity to D-Day

It’s thirsty work re-creating scenes from WWII. Fentimans were approached by a World War II Re-enactment Society, who were looking for a form of refreshment that they could indulge in during their re-enactment of ‘A Village at War’ in May 1944. They needed a drink that did not detract from the authentic nature of their work.

Of course, Fentimans was happy to provide some traditional refreshment and as the pictures show, it was greatly appreciated!

Fentiman's Fearless 'Victorian' Advertising Campaign

Fentiman's first national advertisement appeared in the Observer Food Monthly on 26th March.

It is quirky, irreverent and authentic, having been produced on original Victorian printing plates. We will be making prints available for sale to Fentiman's fans.

This is the first of a series of adverts which will appear in the national press over the next couple of months, so keep an eye out for the next one!

Fentiman's is Top of the Softies

Fentiman's Mandarin & Seville Orange Jigger was the highest scoring soft drink in the Financial Times recent poll, scoring an impressive 9/10 and described as "Lots of sediment with a wonderfully close, ripe scent,like a roly-poly steamed pudding made with marmalade. Full-bodied, refreshingly sharp and cleanly bitter with a little added herbal complexity from speedwell and juniper extracts. Utterly splendid". Our Victorian Lemonade scored a close second 8/10: "Aromatically complex (far more than simple lemon), with a vivd, incisive, ginger-quickened flavour. Very delicately sweetened for maximum mouth-watering refreshment" and the Ginger Beer also scored 8/10: "Slightly cloudy, with a fine cross-fire of pungent,juicy ginger. Peppery-sweet in flavour, leaving near-chilli levels of prickle on your tongue and up your nose. A soft, delicately herbal finish (it also contains lemon, speedwell, juniper and yarrow natural flavourings).

Andrew Jefford's high praise in The Financial Times, 18th February, 2006: "A softie, softie approach".

"Others, too, have spotted the open goal left by th chemically-hypnotised big brands. Fentimans was a soft-drinks company founded in 1905 to slake the thirsts of parched Edwardian cricketers and perspiring lady cyclists. It closed, drowned by a tide of fizz and synthetic flavour, in 1970. The founder's great-grandson,though, saw that its ideals were becoming more necessary than ever as the century wore on and consumers tired of short cuts [...] From the initial Ginger Beer and Victorian Lemonade, the range now runs to six. "

Fentiman's Shandy Plays a Refreshing Role in Gala Premiere

Fentiman's Traditional Full-Bodied Shandy, has been chosen to refresh the stars and selected guests at the Gala Premiere of Michael Winterbottom’s latest film, A Cock and Bull Story, to be held at Cineworld in London’s Haymarket on Monday, January 16th 2006.

Fentiman's managing director and master brewer, Eldon Robson, is a fan of Laurence Sterne’s eighteenth century literary masterpiece, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, the experimental and irreverent novel on which the film is based. Robson explains why he feels that Fentimans Traditional Full-Bodied Shandy is the perfect adult soft drink to serve at the Premiere.

“Both Sterne and Thomas Fentiman, my great-great grandfather who started the company in 1905, were from Yorkshire. Sterne described “true Shandeism” as the “delicious essence that makes the wheel of life run long and cheerfully round”. Of course, he was writing as Tristram Shandy, the fictional hero of his novel, but I think that the shared sense of heritage, intelligence - and perhaps a little irreverence - makes Fentimans Traditional Full-bodied Brewed Shandy the ideal refreshment for this Gala Premiere.”

Fentimans is delighted to be playing a supporting role, as critics are already claiming cult status for a film described as “the best film, ever, ever, ever…”(The Guardian), and “brilliantly inventive, smart and very funny” (Heat Magazine). It boasts a stellar cast including Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon, David Walliams, Dylan Moran, Stephen Fry and Gillian Anderson and will be on general release in the UK from 20 January.

Fentiman's Launches Shandy in a Can!

Fentiman's, whose range of botanically brewed beverages is currently enjoying an impressive share of the international soft-drinks market, has launched its Traditional Full-bodied Shandy in a 330ml can to meet growing consumer demand as the company experiences record volumes for this classic British drink at home, in the States and Japan.

Fentiman's launched its Traditional Full-bodied Shandy – which contains 70% traditionally brewed beer – early in 2002, and sales have continually exceeded expectations outperforming the soft drinks market and other packaged shandy products in particular. In the past 18 months sales have increased by more than 50% reflecting the enthusiastic response from both trade and consumer sectors. According to Fentimans’ director, Geoff Wright, its success is due to the very obvious point of difference: “Fentimans Shandy is what it says on the tin – “More Beer ~ Less Fizz”. Containing 70% beer and a traditional lemonade made with “lemon juice” it has almost seven times more beer (hops and malt) than any other packaged shandy. It’s a pub shandy - in a can!

“With the addition of a 330ml can, Fentiman’s now has a line that is ideal for the impulse marketplace, and we are optimistic that it will accelerate the growth of distribution enjoyed by the brand. We anticipate it will be a popular choice over the Christmas season, when historically demand peaks for our Shandy, as it has all the beer flavour, but minimal alcohol content.”

Fentiman's Grey Hens are Everywhere!

Following our request for any photographs of Fentiman's grey hens, with their proud owners of course (!), we were inundated with letters and photographs from across the country. We appear to have prompted a deluge of memories, all of which were very happy ones!

Watch out for our Grey Hens Page - on the website soon!

Fentiman's: the choice for Celebrity Golfers

Deli@Darras were asked to supply 100 hampers for the Pro-Am event at the Seve trophy at the Wynard Club on Teeside, where the Celebrity Golfers included Newcastle United's Alan Shearer and Michael Owen.

As a fan of Fentiman's, David Urwin, the owner of Deli@Darras, included a bottle of Fentimans ginger beer in each luxury hamper.

Fentiman's Ginger Beer is Top Prize for Cricketers!

Fentiman's Traditional Ginger Beer was the top prize in the annual Birmingham Progressive Synagogue 5-a-side cricket knock-out.

The organisers of the "Cric-nic" reported that the winners, seen right with their bottles of Fentiman's Ginger Beer, were "delighted to receive Fentiman's Ginger Beer as a prize, particularly such a traditional and tasty brand. Everyone thought it was a most appropriate and delicious reward!"

Fentiman's shares its centenary year with another company of distinction.

Fentimans, the 100-year old drinks company famous for its botanically brewed beverages, was delighted to support centenary celebrations this year at Longbridge to commemorate the founding of the Austin Motor Company and 100 years of continuous motor vehicle making at the Longbridge factory.

Visitors to the Austin Centenary Weekend on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 July at Cofton Park, South West Birmingham were able to enjoy the full range of Fentiman's soft drinks – Traditional Ginger Beer, Victorian Lemonade, Mandarin and Seville Orange Jigger, Curiosity Cola, Dandelion & Burdock and Fentiman's Traditional Shandy.

“We at Fentiman's appreciate how special and unique the Austin motor car is. We too value our heritage and authenticity, reflected in our brewing process which still uses the same traditional methods as almost 100 years ago by combining the finest herbs, natural flavourings, sugar and brewers yeast, leaving the ingredients to ferment for seven days. We are looking forward to sharing the unique taste of Fentimans botanically brewed beverages with visitors to Cofton Park this weekend,” said Eldon Robson, Fentiman's Managing Director and great-great-grandson of the company’s founder, Thomas Fentiman.

Eldon's brother, Neil (seen posing for the camera, above), was at Cofton Park to ensure that discerning classic car enthusiasts could also benefit from the invigorating taste of Fentiman's classic beverages.

Fentiman's helps artist deliver message in a bottle - 500 times!

Fentiman's, the 100-year-old drinks company famous for its botanically brewed beverages, is being celebrated in a unique work of art that pays tribute to Scotland’s fishing heritage.

Torrance artist Norma-Louise Thallon spent months looking for the right size and shape of glass bottle to hold her hand-drawn sketches of Scottish fishing vessels, including boats currently working in the North Sea and others that have been lost at sea or de-commissioned.

Each drawing is cut to size, rolled up and placed inside the bottle as part of a new exhibition on Scotland’s perceived national identity. After trialling many different styles, Norma decided Fentiman's traditional round-shouldered glass bottles – usually filled with creative juices of another kind, including Victorian Lemonade, Curiosity Cola and Seville Orange Jigger - had the perfect characteristics for her exhibit.

Fentimans, based in Northumberland, was delighted to help out and duly supplied Norma with no less than 500 empty Fentimans bottles.

“I’m extremely pleased with the result,” Norma said. “The traditional look of the Fentimans bottles was perfect for the piece of work and the finished installation is a strong image. It’s not every day an artist asks you for 500 empties, so I’m glad they got into the spirit of it and could see what I was trying to do!”

Geoff Wright, Fentiman's Marketing Director, said: “We also use our unique bottles to deliver a message about our products, so we thought it was very appropriate to help Norma with her quest. In every bottle of Fentiman's – Traditional Ginger Beer, Victorian Lemonade, Mandarin and Seville Orange Jigger,Curiosity Cola, Dandelion & Burdock and Traditional Full-Bodied Shandy - you will see fine sediment at the bottom of the bottle. This is the result of the time-honoured process of botanically brewed beverages, which ensures that all the flavour and goodness from the raw ingredients remain in the bottle, giving a fuller and more invigorating taste.”

Norma’s work is part of the “See Scotland” exhibition, which explores the diversity of a national identity through ancient, urban, domestic, kitsch and fabled conceptions of Scotland.

It takes place at the Dick Institute, Kilmarnock, from 25 June to 30 July.

Schoolboy's Creative Ideas Picked Up By Local Store

A 12-year-old schoolboy has had his advertising designs for a local soft drinks company picked up by a major supermarket in Blyth, Northumberland.

Callum Wright, a first year pupil at the Newcastle Royal Grammar School, came up with the ideas for Fentimans range of “botanically brewed beverages” which have been developed into point of sale material and banners in the local Asda store.

The designs are for Fentimans’ leading product, Traditional Ginger Beer, and feature a photo of the bottle with the slogan “Can you swig it? Your granddad could!” relating to the fact that Fentimans has been producing traditional brews in the time-honoured way since 1905.

Fentimans, which still produces its range of soft drinks using the same traditional methods and ingredients as used nearly 100 years ago, liked the executions so much that the company is planning to extend the series to its other botanically brewed beverages – Mandarin Seville Orange Jigger (Can you jig it?) and Curiosity Cola (Can you suss it?).

“The ideas just come off the top of my head,” says Callum, who has plans to use his creative skills in something more constructive – like engineering! “My dad is involved in advertising and I was looking at some of the existing Fentimans’ designs when the ideas just came to me randomly.”

Gateshead Stained Glass Maker Produces Unique Fentimans Logo

Fentimans, the Newcastle producer of botanically brewed beverages, has commissioned a Gateshead stained glass artist to produce a replica of the Fentimans’ logo which dates back to 1905, featuring an award winning alsation dog.

Paul Lowthian, a former civil servant who set up Lowthian Stained Glass in Wellington Street ten months ago, has completed a stained glass panel of the head of “Fearless”, the dog which was owned by Thomas Fentiman who founded the original Fentimans drinks company in 1905.

Fentimans traded successfully in the North East for 60 years by delivering its ginger beer door-to-door, but the onset of supermarkets caused the company to close down in the mid 1960s. But in 1988, Eldon Robson, Fentimans’ current managing director and great-great-grandson of Thomas Fentiman, decided to re-establish the business with a mission to continue producing drinks in the time-honoured way, using natural ingredients and processes.

“Thomas Fentiman was fiercely proud of Fearless who was twice a winner of the Crufts obedience test,” says Eldon. “So, in the 1930s, Thomas Fentiman had an image of his head made into the company logo. In fact, a mosaic of the original logo can still be seen today on the original Fentimans factory building in King Street in Gateshead – ironically only half a mile from Paul Lowthian’s home!”

Fentimans produces a range of adult soft drinks including Traditional Ginger Beer, Victorian Lemonade, Mandarin Seville Orange Jigger and Curiosity Cola and continues to process its brews using the same traditional methods as almost 100 years ago by combining the finest herbs, natural flavourings, sugar and brewers yeast and leaving the ingredients to ferment for seven days.

The stained glass panel was commissioned to underline the synergy between the Fentimans’ heritage and the age-old craft of stained glass making, and will be taken to trade exhibitions to showcase the tradition and heritage behind Fentimans products.

Although there are now different methods of making stained glass, the panel was produced using the most traditional processes, according to Paul Lowthian:

“I used the traditional lead technique, as opposed to copper foil which is often used now-a-days,” says Paul. “Once a final design was agreed upon, a scale drawing was produced. Each piece of glass is cut out separately, then leaded up and soldered individually. The panel is then cemented, cleaned, polished and finally installed. It’s quite an intricate design and I had to source a number of different colours and glass types to get the final effect.”

Paul goes on to explain that stained glass making was very popular 120 years ago but that the manufacturing processes remain the same today - much like Fentimans drinks, in fact.

“New technology has developed hugely in most areas of manufacture, so it’s good to see that there are still companies like Fentimans and Lowthian Stained Glass who persevere with the traditional methods and tools.”