{"id":1006,"date":"2014-03-19T11:14:48","date_gmt":"2014-03-19T11:14:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.instantoffices.com\/blog\/?p=1006"},"modified":"2016-11-21T09:20:21","modified_gmt":"2016-11-21T09:20:21","slug":"first-offices-uks-oldest-companies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.instantoffices.com\/blog\/reports-and-research\/first-offices-uks-oldest-companies\/","title":{"rendered":"First Offices: UK\u2019s Oldest Companies"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this week\u2019s edition of our first offices series, we\u2019re taking a look at some of the oldest companies in the UK. This is by no means a definitive list, but we hope you find it as interesting to read as we did to write it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Berry Brothers & Rudd<\/h2>\n

Berry Brothers & Rudd are one of the UK\u2019s oldest wine and spirit merchants. The company was founded by widow Bourne in 1698 \u2013 her first name is unknown –\u00a0 trading at number 3 St James\u2019s Street, London. Amazingly, the business still operates from the same premises today.<\/p>\n

The company has a very colourful history \u2013 they supplied 69 cases of wine which sank on the doomed Titanic, provided smugglers with wine and spirits in prohibition-era America, and sheltered Napoleon III in the cellars beneath the shop!<\/p>\n

Today, the company have two Royal Warrants and eight Masters of Wine, along with branches in Basingstoke, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong.<\/p>\n

\"Berry<\/a>
The premises of Berry Brothers & Rudd at 3 St James\u2019s Street, London<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Twinings<\/h2>\n

Twinings is an English tea company which was established in 1706 by Thomas Twining. He opened the nation\u2019s first known tea room at number 216 Strand, London. The company holds the distinction of being London\u2019s longest-standing rate payer, since they have occupied the same premises since 1706. They are also renowned for having the world’s oldest continually used company logo, which was created in 1787.<\/p>\n

At the time of the tea room\u2019s establishment, the market was saturated with coffee houses. Twining\u2019s unique offering gave him a competitive edge, which meant that the fashionable and wealthy visited his premises. According to the company website, Twinings Gunpowder Green Tea was sold for a price equivalent to over \u00a3160 pounds per 100 grams today!<\/p>\n

Today, Twinings is owned by Associated British Foods and is based in Andover, Hampshire.<\/p>\n

\"Twinings<\/a>
The Twinings outlet in the Strand, London.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sotheby\u2019s<\/h2>\n

Samuel Baker, a London bookseller, established \u201cBaker and Leigh\u201d on 11 March 1744, when he presided over the auction of the library of Sir John Stanley. After Baker\u2019s death, the company passed into the hands of John Sotheby and his family, after whom the company was renamed.<\/p>\n

In 1917, Sotheby\u2019s relocated to 34-35 New Bond Street, which the company still uses as its London base. They are also the world\u2019s fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation. Today, they are headquartered in New York, with 90 locations in 40 countries around the world.<\/p>\n

\"Sotheby's<\/a>
Sotheby\u2019s New York City headquarters<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shepherd Neame<\/h2>\n

Shepherd Neame is the oldest brewery in Britain, having been officially established in 1698 in Faversham, Kent by Richard Marsh. The company has been family owned since 1864, when it became known as \u201cShepherd Neame & Company\u201d.<\/p>\n

Today, Shepherd Neame produce over 230\u00a0000 barrels of beer a year, and export to over 20 countries. They also own around 360 pubs around Britain.<\/p>\n

\"Shepherd<\/a>
The Shepherd Neame brewery in Faversham, pictured in 1982<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We hope you\u2019ve enjoyed this edition of \u201cFirst Offices\u201d. Which companies would you like to see featured next?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In this week\u2019s edition of our first offices series, we\u2019re taking a look at some of the oldest companies in the UK. This is by no means a definitive list, but we hope you find it as interesting to read as we did to write it.   Berry Brothers & Rudd Berry Brothers & Rudd are one of the UK\u2019s oldest wine and spirit merchants. The company was founded by widow Bourne in 1698 \u2013 her first name is unknown –\u00a0 trading at number 3 St James\u2019s Street, London. Amazingly, the business still operates from the same premises today. The company has a very colourful history \u2013 they supplied 69 cases of wine which sank on the doomed Titanic, provided smugglers with wine and spirits in prohibition-era America, and sheltered Napoleon III in the cellars beneath the shop! Today, the company have two Royal Warrants and eight Masters of Wine, along with branches in Basingstoke, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong.   Twinings Twinings is an English tea company which was established in 1706 by Thomas Twining. He opened the nation\u2019s first known tea room at number 216 Strand, London. The company holds the distinction of being London\u2019s longest-standing rate payer, since they have occupied the same premises since 1706. They are also renowned for having the world’s oldest continually used company logo, which was created in 1787. At the time of the tea room\u2019s establishment, the market was saturated with coffee houses. Twining\u2019s unique offering gave him a competitive edge, which meant that the fashionable and wealthy visited his premises. According to the company website, Twinings Gunpowder Green Tea was sold for a price equivalent to over \u00a3160 pounds per 100 grams today! Today, Twinings is owned by Associated British Foods and is based in Andover, Hampshire. Sotheby\u2019s Samuel Baker, a London bookseller, established \u201cBaker and Leigh\u201d on 11 March 1744, when he presided over the auction of the library of Sir John Stanley. After Baker\u2019s death, the company passed into the hands of John Sotheby and his family, after whom the company was renamed. In 1917, Sotheby\u2019s relocated to 34-35 New Bond Street, which the company still uses as its London base. They are also the world\u2019s fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation. Today, they are headquartered in New York, with 90 locations in 40 countries around the world. Shepherd Neame Shepherd Neame is the oldest brewery in Britain, having been officially established in 1698 in Faversham, Kent by Richard Marsh. The company has been family owned since 1864, when it became known as \u201cShepherd Neame & Company\u201d. Today, Shepherd Neame produce over 230\u00a0000 barrels of beer a year, and export to over 20 countries. They also own around 360 pubs around Britain. We hope you\u2019ve enjoyed this edition of \u201cFirst Offices\u201d. Which companies would you like to see featured next?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8387,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[75],"class_list":["post-1006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reports-and-research","tag-first-offices"],"yoast_head":"\nFirst Offices - UK's Oldest Companies - Instant Offices Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this week\u2019s edition of our first offices series, we\u2019re taking a look at some of the oldest companies in the UK. 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