15/08/2026
A brief History of The Mug House Provenance:
• 17th-Century Naming: The name "Mug House" comes from a popular 17th-century term for an alehouse.
• River Trade: Located on Severnside North, the pub sat alongside a busy inland port on the River Severn.
• "Muggin": Local traders and bow haulers historically sealed business deals at the pub over a mug of ale, an old practice known as "muggin".
• First Landlord: The first recorded landlord was John Smith, who managed the tavern during the 1820s.
• Beerhouse Status: In 1836, John Smith reduced the pub to a beerhouse to cut down on expensive government licence fees.
• Crowded Pub Scene: By 1841, old Bewdley recorded 71 public houses,😲 creating one of the highest license concentrations per capita in the country, with the Mug House serving as a central hub.
• Ownership Changes: Benjamin Smith took over as licensee in 1849, followed by lantern maker Henry Southern in 1860.
• Brewery Mergers: The pub joined the Worcestershire Brewing, Malting Company Ltd in 1846 before transitioning to the Kidderminster Brewery.
