The traditional dimpled pint pot is set to disappear from pubs following the closure of the last company to make the glass.
The shutdown of the Ravenhead Glass plant ends 150 years of manufacturing a…
The traditional dimpled pint pot is set to disappear from pubs following the closure of the last company to make the glass. The shutdown of the Ravenhead Glass plant ends 150 years of manufacturing a jug which has become as much a part of pub history as the bitter poured into it. And yesterday the demise of the dimpled pot was greeted with sadness as drinkers faced a future of straight glasses only. Michael Jones, secretary of the Brewery History Society, said: “The dimples were unique and I can“t think of any other country which uses this type of glass.” Iain Loe, Research Manager for the Real Ale Society, said: “Ravenhead was the last factory to make these pint jugs. “The handle kept the beer cooler but, as glass-making techniques improved it was possible to make more robust glasses with less glass. “Drinkers prefer to wrap their hands around their glass and that“s why the straight glass has become more popular.” The pint mug, a favourite with celebrities, was first used in bars in the 1920s. Dimples were carved in the side to cut the cost of the glass. Ravenhead, which opened in 1842 as a small shop with one kiln and produced some of the first handled pint glasses, hit difficulties last autumn. Production ceased at the end of last week and now 350 workers face losing their jobs with the Merseyside firm. Remaining stocks of the dimple glasses will be sold as part of the liquidation of the St Helens plant. Staff rep Alan Pickavance said: “The British have always been the best at making glass tableware and the dimple pint pot is a prime example. “It is so traditionally British, efforts should have been made to keep the factory alive.