In 1843 John Arkell established a brewery in Swindon Road. In 1861 he built the brewery in Kingsdown. After John died in 1881, his sons Thomas and James took over. By 1925 the brothers had both died and so the company passed to James' sons Thomas Noel (later Sir Noel), James Graham and John Oliver. Pubs were also acquired and in 1927 the company became J. Arkell & Sons Limited. The company has remained family owned. In 1989 they changed the name to Arkell's Brewery Limited.