Thomas Hardy's Brewer
Thomas Hardy's Brewer
The Story of Eldridge Pope
John Seekings
'It was the most beautiful colour that the eye of an artist in beer could desire; full in body, yet brisk as a volcano; piquant, yet without a twang; luminous as an autumn sunse....' Thomas Hardy
The Brewing business is a Devil of a one to manage.' So wrote Edwin Pope in 1870, yet the company he helped create grew into one of the most successful breweries in England. This is the history of Eldridge, Pope & Co and the story it tells is as invigorating as its beers.
The firm was founded in 1837 by Charles and Sarah Eldridge in a back street in Dorchester, and its early growth owes much to Sarah's determination to prosper. Her achievements were justifiably celebrated at the National Theatre in Entertaining Strangers, with Dame Judi Dench playing Sarah.
In the 1870s the company was bought by Edwin and Alfred Pope, with whome Thomas Hardy was a close friend. Since then the baton has been passed on from one generation of Popes to the next.
Delivery timescales
We aim to fullfill all deliveries within 48 hours of order but if you need it quicker please call 01305 267643.
Local deliveries - We carry out regular weekday free deliveries to the areas surroung Dorchester, including Dorchester, Weymouth, Portland, Puddletown, Cerne Abbas in the DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4 and DT5 post codes. You will recieve an SMS message in advance to notifiy you of the delivery to ensure someone is available to receive the items or to advise of a safe place for it to be left.
Courier deliveries - Most items are dispatched on the day of order on a 48 hour delivery service using Royal Mail.
Retail Customer Standard Delivery Charges
- Free standard delivery to DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4, DT5 Postcodes.
- Collection from DT2 9SN is free but needs to be arranged in advance.
- Standard delivery charges apply on all deliveries outside the free delivery area to Mainland UK at the current rates available at www.eldridgepope.co.uk.
- Orders of over £100 including VAT to UK Mainland addresses are free.
Trade Customer Standard Delivery Charges
- Delivery within Dorset is free.
- Collection from DT2 9SN is free but needs to be arranged in advance.
- Standard delivery charges apply on all deliveries outside the free delivery area to Mainland UK at the current rates available at www.eldridgepope.co.uk.
- Orders of over £250 excluding VAT to UK Mainland business addresses are free.
We are sorry, but this excludes Islands outside the Mainland UK and Northern Ireland. Please contact us on 01305 267643 or email sales@eldridgepope.co.uk to obtain a quote for any destination outside mainland UK.
Returning an item
We make every effort to ensure every product we sell reaches you in the very best condition.
You may return any unopened items purchased from Eldridge Pope & Co within 14 days of the original delivery date. If the product is defective or the return is due to our error, we will cover the return shipping costs. For all other returns, you will be responsible for the return shipping fees. Returns will not be accepted after 14 days. Once we receive the returned item, we will process your refund within 7 days, using the same payment method as your original purchase or store credit as requested .
Please send authorised returns to the following address:
Eldridge Pope & Co
Wrackleford House
Dorchester
Dorset DT2 9SN
For questions regarding our return policy please contact us at info@eldridgepope.co.uk or 01305 267643.