1978:- Simon Whitmore, formerly Managing Director of Courage Western, and before that with Guinness worldwide, sets up Butcombe Brewery in old farm buildings at his family home in the village of Butcombe, 10 miles south of Bristol ….. BUTCOMBE BITTER is born. 1980:-  Brew length is increased from 10 barrels to 20 barrels 1982:-  Brew length is increased again, this time from 20 barrels to 45 barrels 1989:-  Butcombe Bitter is Runner Up in Champion Beer of Britain contest, at Great British Beer Festival 1992:-  New barn is purchased to expand the Brewery … brew length is increased to 85 barrels 1996:-  Butcombe Bitter Runner Up AGAIN in Champion Beer of Britain Contest at Great British Beer Festival … no justice! 1998:-  Butcombe finally brews a 2nd Beer … Butcombe Gold @ 4.7abv.  After 20 years who would have believed it! 2003:-  Simon Whitmore sells Butcombe Brewery, plus 6 Freehold Pubs, to Guy Newell and Paul Horsley, the dynamic duo responsible for creating The Beer Seller, National Drinks Wholesale Co.  (The Beer Seller was sold to H.P. Bulmer the Cidermaker in 2000, with Guy remaining with the business for 2 years to oversee the integration) 2004:-  Butcombe Blond is launched … a classic pale bitter at 4.3abv, superb summer drinking (available April to September) The Brewery buys The Queens Arms at Bleadon, near Weston-super-Mare