Rose Lemonade, Curiosity Cola, Ginger Beer. Names synonymous with one of the North East’s most successful brands- Fentimans.
With its iconic glass bottle and German Shepherd logo, Fentimans is known around the world for its high quality botanically brewed soft drinks.
2025 is a significant year for the Hexham-based company as they celebrate 120 years of brewing with a series of special projects and collaborations, including with another North East icon- Fenwick.
We chat to the team at Fentimans about how they are celebrating their milestone and exciting plans for the future.
Lucozade, electric lightbulbs and locomotives. All inventions created right here in the North East and all changing the world. Alongside them is a brewer of soft drinks that has changed the drinks industry around the globe with its high-quality, unique drinks.
Founded by Thomas Fentiman in 1905 after receiving the recipe for their Ginger Beer as payment for a loan, Fentimans has grown into a booming business that is now stocked in 70 countries around the world, using the same brewing process that was refined all those years ago.
In its big birthday year, the business has planned a series of collaborations, launches and events to celebrate the 120 years milestone. Fentimans, which is now led by Thomas Fentiman’s great-great-grandson, Eldon Robson, has partnered with North East retailer Fenwick to celebrate 120 years of brewing in a collaboration of two key North East businesses.
Jayne Andrews, Head of Marketing at Fentimans, said: “As we celebrate our 120th birthday, we wanted to focus on celebrating our roots, and approached the team at Fenwick following the success of their previous pop-ups with brands such as Greggs and Colman’s.
“We have fantastic brand synergy and share a heritage, premium customer and, as two iconic North East brands, we felt it was the perfect collaboration to celebrate our successes.”
Their first Fenwick pop-up saw them take over space on the 1st floor, creating a botanical haven, perfect for shoppers looking for a floral escape. They have now moved into space on Fenwick’s roof top- an outdoor covered area serving food and drink all summer, with flavours inspired by Fentimans recipes. The Botanical Garden has transformed Fenwick’s Roof Thirty Nine into a relaxing summer setting, perfect for a post-shopping tipple or to enjoy the views of the city.
Jayne continues, “It’s important to us as a Hexham-based business that we celebrate our local customers. People in the North East are very loyal to local brands and by doing this partnership, we’re celebrating the North East and taking the brand to different audiences in the region.
“With the opening of our bar space on the roof top, we are keen to attract a younger audience who might be a little bit less familiar with Fentimans at present.
“We have worked with bar owner and mixologist Joe Schofield to create some fantastic new drinks, and because our range is so versatile, we can create alcoholic drinks as well as mocktails to suit every taste.”
The menu at Fentimans at Fenwick is infused with the botanical flavours customers know and love, including botanical buddha bowls, floral flatbreads served with an elderflower vinaigrette and cocktail snacks sourced from local producers.
Cocktails include a Raspberry Espresso, Ginger Zinger and Rose Lemonade Spritz, with soft and hot drinks also available.
The Fentimans brand is synonymous with its glass bottle and the logo of Thomas Fentiman’s dog Fearless. The German Shepherd won at Crufts twice, and joined Thomas on the first deliveries, which were made by horse and cart.
As retail needs adjust and change to a contemporary customer, so too is Fentimans, who confirmed that they have begun working on more canned drinks, ideal for supermarket ‘grab and go’ sections.
“While the iconic bottle is first and foremost how we present our brand, we also wanted to offer the flexibility of cans for retailers and ensure that the business moves with changing consumer behaviour”, said Jayne. ‘Consumers lives are very busy, and they’re on the move more and more, so having more cans makes sense.’
While Ginger Beer was the original drink produced and sold, the next most popular over the last decade has been Rose Lemonade, a recipe Eldon created and which skyrocketed the brand’s popularity across the world.
“When Eldon came up with the concept of a Rose Lemonade 10 years ago, it was a really unique idea in the drinks industry and quickly became very popular.
“There have been some copycats over the years, but our traditional brewing methods and our emphasis on the quality of the ingredients really sets us apart from competitors.
“Every single new recipe, every tweak to a drink, is tasted and signed off on by Eldon- he has a real focus on preserving his family’s traditions and putting in the same level of care and craft that Thomas did all those years ago.”
In the 120 years since the business was founded, consumer needs have changed but Fentimans has remained a regional icon that has withstood countless changes.
Jayne reflects, “Not a lot has changed in 120 years, but everything has changed too. From a small family business to a leading international drinks provider, and now working with key businesses like Fenwick, we are adapting Fentimans to the needs of the modern consumer, while retaining our traditional botanical brewing methods and remain a family business.”
The authenticity of Fentimans is evident, within the consistency of flavours, the branding and the commitment to local people.
Fearless House, the Head Office of Fentimans, stands proudly in the Northumberland town of Hexham and is a nod to the canine companion stamped on each bottle.
“We are incredibly proud to be a North East business bringing awareness to the region- and to good quality beverages- on an international stage.
“120 years of business is no mean feat, and to celebrate with our Botanical Garden space- and introduce new products for our customers- is a real honour and a testament to the Fentimans brand that began life as a sole horse and cart trader and is now something really iconic.”
For more information on Fentimans, visit www.fentimans.com
For information on Fentimans at Fenwick, visit https://www.fenwick.co.uk/pages/roof-39-is-back-and-it-s-blooming-with-flavour
