Famous brewpub and 'real ale Mecca' in Madeley on the market for £550,000 - for only the third time since 1832
One of Shropshire's most historic pubs has come onto the market for only the third time in its 236-year history.
The All Nations near Madeley, which found fame in the 1970s as one of just four surviving brewery pubs in the UK, is for sale priced £550,000.
Situated close to Blists Hill Museum, The All Nations is praised for its friendly clientele and cosy interior in the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) Good Beer Guide 2025.
It was also one of just 50 winners of the Camra Golden Award for outstanding contributions to the real ale scene.
Landlady Linda Birtwhistle, who took over the pub with late husband Jim in 2002, said she had decided it was time to retire.
But the 73-year-old spoke of her great sadness to be leaving a pub she and Jim had frequented as customers since the 1970s.
"I have come to an age when I am ready to retire, to relax and spend more time with the family," she said.
"But it will be a huge wrench: it is a very special pub, and we're only the third family to have owned it."
The All Nations Inn opened in 1789 - just 10 years after the construction of the Iron Bridge - under the ownership of the Baguley family and brewing first commenced in 1832.
The Baguley family were also builders having been responsible for the construction of numerous local railway stations in the area. The family kept the pub for 103 years.
In the 1930s the All Nations was sold to the Lewis family, who ran the pub for 66 years.
By this point the All Nations Inn was a famous long-established brewpub, long associated with licensee Eliza Lewis, who famously only drank tea and was the subject of a feature in the Shropshire Star in October 1970. The only beer brewed at this time was a light mild ale.
By the 1970s, this was one of the four surviving brewpubs in the United Kingdom.
She was followed by her son-in-law Keith Hardman who brewed for 25 years before his retirement.
It was bought in 2002 by present owners Linda and Jim Birtwhistle, who reopened the brewery after a brief period of closure.
The brewery was initially kept by Mike Handley of Worfield, later Shires, Brewery.
Following Mr Handley's retirement, the 10-barrel plant was refurbished before re-opening in 2016 by Andy Brough.
Since then the range of beers has been expanded to include Eliza Lewis Pale Ale, Birt’s Bitter, Brough’s Mild, Baguley Old Ale and Dabley Gold Ale, which won the 2024 Wolverhampton Beer Festival.
The agent describes the pub as being situated in 1.1 acres of grounds in the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, one of the first in the UK to be designated by Unesco in 1986.
"The property itself is untouched by modern influence with a traditional pub feel and large grounds that provide excellent outside trading areas," it said.
"The business has won a large number of accolades within the industry, especially from Camra and is a real ale enthusiast Mecca, attracting them from all over the Midlands in addition to the large number of tourists visiting the Ironbridge Gorge and residents in the area. It enjoys outstanding outside trading areas which are key to its success during the busy summer months.
"The All Nations Inn is located in the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site in the boundaries of the town of Madeley, set on a quiet wooded hill side opposite the Blist Hill Victorian Town Museum, which attracts a huge number of visitors throughout the year."
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