Hartbrights have been providing traditional pub signage for brewer Charles Wells for 10 years.

Our craftsmen create projecting and hanging signs held in metalwork, sign writing and standard pub signage that complements the premises in the brewery’s estate.

Charles Wells, the founder of the brewery, was an interesting man. Born in 1842, at the age of 14 he joined the merchant navy to sate his appetite for exploration and travel, rising to the rank of captain.

On shore leave one year in his hometown of Bedford he met and fell in love with Josephine Grimley. Charles asked her father for her hand in marriage, but he said no, not while he was in such a dangerous job.

Wells promptly quit the navy he’d spent two decades in, returned to Bedford and, in December 1875, bought at auction at the Bedford Swan Hotel a brewery and 32 pubs for the grand total of £16,700. Josephine’s father was satisfied and the two were married.

Charlie also wanted to give something back to Bedford so, when he sunk a well in the town to provide purified water for the brewery (which is still used to this day), he sunk a second to provide fresh, clean water to everyone. Legend.

It’s a story we love, as is the fact that some 140+ years later, the Charles Wells brewery continues, with six generations to date having maintained its standards and values.

The Charles Wells estate now stands at almost 200 pubs in England and France. Hartbrights has provided the signage for many of them. Our craftsmanship and attention to detail has cemented this long term relationship and we’re very proud of it.

Two of the more recent projects we’ve undertaken for Charles Wells are The Dobblers Inn in Cambridge and The Anchor in Great Barford. At the time of writing the signage is still being worked on in our workshop. Take a look.

Craftsmanship for The Anchor, another Charles Wells pub.

All of the processes pictured above come together to create the hanging / projecting signs we create for Charles Wells. The main image is UV printed onto two sheets of Dibond, which are then glued back to back with two pack resin glue. The black and gold lettering is then applied by hand, whilst the rest of the frame is created. Gilding for the gold lettering and eagle logo is applied by hand before it all comes together ready for fitting.

And, of course, we’ve done many other pubs for the brewery down the years. Here’s a selection of the best in our opinion.

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If you need signage for your pubs, restaurant, retail outlet, offices – anywhere, really, please get in touch.