A lack of tied houses, in addition to the ambitious 1897 introduction of a lager plant, which did not meet sales expectations, proved to be a major financial burden.

After a failed attempt at a merger with Thomas Salt and Co and the Burton Brewery Company in 1907,[2] Allsopp's fell into the hands of the receivers in 1911.

The receiver, Sir William Barclay Peat, brought in John J. Calder, a 45-year-old experienced brewery manager from Alloa in Scotland to revive the business.

The company's capital was restructured, Calder proceeded to acquire smaller breweries in order to expand Allsopp's tied house estate, and the business continued trading.

[4] In their 2018 Manifesto,[5] James Watt stated that they were working with beer historian Martyn Cornell to recreate the original century recipe.