Discover the fascinating history of Coopers Tavern in Burton upon Trent, a former Bass brewery tap and one of the town’s most remarkable heritage pubs.

A Pub with a Story in Every Pint

If you’re looking for a pub where Burton upon Trent’s brewing heritage is quite literally built into the walls, make your way to Coopers Tavern on Cross Street.

This wonderfully characterful pub is no ordinary drinking hole. Its story is intertwined with William Bass, the famous Bass Brewery, the craft of coopering and the rise of Burton upon Trent as one of the world’s great brewing towns.

And its reputation stretches well beyond Burton. The pub has been praised by The Times, with food and drink writer Pete Brown describing Coopers Tavern as his favourite pub and highlighting Burton’s extraordinary status as a beer town.

For visitors interested in history, heritage, traditional pubs and great beer, Coopers Tavern is a must-visit.

Burton upon Trent | The Brewing Capital of the World

To understand Coopers Tavern, you first need to understand Burton.

During the 19th century, Burton upon Trent became one of the world’s most important brewing centres. Its mineral-rich water was particularly suited to brewing pale ales, while the arrival of canals and railways opened up new markets for Burton beer. By 1869, the town had 26 breweries, including the mighty Bass.

Brewing transformed Burton.

It created thousands of jobs and supported a huge network of industries and trades – from maltsters and engineers to railway workers, draymen and, importantly, coopers.

And that brings us to the pub’s name.

Why Were Coopers So Important to Burton?

Before modern metal and stainless-steel containers, beer travelled in wooden casks.

Every barrel needed to be carefully made, maintained and repaired, and that was the job of the cooper.

Coopers were highly skilled craftsmen who shaped wooden staves, fitted hoops and created watertight barrels capable of carrying beer over long distances. When casks returned to the brewery, they were inspected, repaired and put back into service.

In Burton, the scale of the brewing industry meant the demand for

coopers was enormous. At the height of the town’s brewing boom, coopering was one of its most important trades, and skilled coopers were among the highest-paid craftsmen in Burton.

So important was the trade that coopers’ yards could occupy huge areas alongside the breweries themselves.

It was an essential part of getting Burton’s famous beer from the brewery to drinkers across Britain and around the world.

And there’s a wonderful reminder of this heritage in the town today: the Burton Cooper sculpture in Coopers Square, celebrating the craftsmen whose work was fundamental to Burton’s brewing success.

Step Inside Coopers Tavern

Now imagine stepping into a pub where that brewing history is still tangible.

That’s exactly what you’ll find at Coopers Tavern.

The building is believed to date from the early 19th century and was originally associated with Bass. It served as accommodation for the brewer-in-charge before becoming an overflow store for special malts.

By 1826, it was being used to store Bass Imperial Stout. Brewers would come across from the main brewery to sample the beer, and the building gradually evolved into an unofficial brewery tap.

It was formally licensed as a public house in 1858 and remained closely associated with Bass for generations.

Today, CAMRA describes Coopers Tavern as a three-star pub interior of outstanding national historic importance.

And once you step inside, it’s easy to see why.

The Tap Room | Where the Casks Are Part of the Experience

One of the most fascinating features of Coopers Tavern is its historic tap room.

Rather than hiding the beer away behind a conventional bar, casks are still visible alongside the drinking area.

This unusual arrangement is part of what makes Coopers Tavern such a special survivor. CAMRA describes it as one of the UK’s most precious surviving pubs, with casks stillage alongside the drinking area.

There are also cosy snugs, traditional seating, brewery memorabilia and plenty of character.

It feels less like stepping into a modern pub and more like stepping into Burton’s brewing past.

And that’s precisely the point.

Bass, Joule’s & a Story of Brewing Rivalry

Coopers Tavern’s story doesn’t end with Bass.

Today, the pub is owned by Joule’s Brewery, another name with a fascinating connection to Staffordshire’s brewing history.

Joule’s and Bass were once fierce rivals. Bass eventually gained control of Joule’s Brewery and the historic Joule’s brewery in Stone was demolished in 1974.

Decades later, the story took an unexpected turn.

In 2009, a licence agreement allowing Joule’s to return to brewing independently was signed inside the William Bass Meeting Room at Coopers Tavern – the former Bass brewery tap.

It’s a wonderfully symbolic moment in Burton’s brewing story: a building once at the heart of the Bass empire helping to mark the revival of an independent Joule’s.

Today, Coopers Tavern serves Joule’s beers alongside other ales and continues to serve Bass directly from the cask in the historic sampling cellar.

A Pub Worth Raising a Glass To

Coopers Tavern isn’t just loved because of its history.

It has also earned recognition for the way that history has been carefully preserved.

In 2019, Coopers Tavern won the CAMRA and Historic England Pub Design Award for Conservation, recognising the sensitive refurbishment of this remarkable historic pub.

Rather than stripping away its character, the refurbishment carefully conserved the historic interior while introducing new spaces that complement the original building.

The result is a pub that feels authentic, welcoming and wonderfully individual.

More Than Beer

There’s plenty happening at Coopers Tavern beyond the beer.

The pub has live music, a beer garden, real log fires and dog-friendly spaces, while regular local activities have included folk music sessions and a book club.

Food is relaxed and traditional, with snacks such as pork pies, Scotch eggs and sausage rolls, with filled cobs available at weekends.

It’s the sort of place where you can settle in, take your time and soak up the atmosphere.

Why Coopers Tavern Belongs on Your Burton Itinerary

For anyone exploring Burton upon Trent, Coopers Tavern offers something rather special.

It’s a place where you can discover the story of the town’s brewing industry while experiencing a traditional pub that is still very much alive today.

You can see the casks.

You can see the brewing memorabilia.

You can sit in a historic tap room.

And, of course, you can enjoy a proper pint.

Most importantly, you can begin to understand just how much more there was to Burton’s brewing success than the breweries themselves.

Behind every pint was a network of skilled people, including the coopers who made the barrels that carried Burton beer out into the world.

Photo credit Joule’s Brewery