Category: History

Our founding figure: the Widow Bourne

Our business was founded more than 320 years ago by a woman we know only as “the Widow Bourne”. Although we no longer sell tea and coffee, we’re incredibly proud of our roots as a grocer’s. Little is known about the mysterious woman who founded our business in 1698. We don’t know how or when […]

The history of Good Ordinary Claret

Good Ordinary Claret is our signature red Bordeaux at Berry Bros. & Rudd. We speak to Christopher Berry Green, our former Managing Director and Chairman, to uncover the details of Good Ordinary Claret’s early days in the 1970s.   Good Ordinary Claret is a wine inextricably woven into the heritage of Berry Bros. & Rudd. The label itself makes this clear from the outset: a monochrome […]

The history and heritage of The King’s Ginger

The King’s Ginger – our favourite ginger and lemon liqueur – is steeped in 117 years of history, since its inception in 1903. The story behind it is just as colourful as the king it was named for. I speak to Ronnie Cox, our Brands Heritage Director, to uncover the details of its rich heritage.   The King and his neighbourhood In […]

The Grocer of St James’s Street | Part 2

This article is the second part of The Grocer of St James’s Street, originally published in Number Three magazine in Spring 1958. Delving into the St James’s of the 17th century, this article continues the story of William Pickering – the man who laid the foundations for Berry Bros. & Rudd as it is today. […]