John Palmer was born in West Dorset and on leaving school he spent three years with Whitbread in five breweries in the South of England.

On returning to Palmers in 1972, he understudied his father, Anthony Palmer, working through all aspects of the business. In 1976 he became a Director. In 1983 he was appointed Managing Director and became Chairman in 1986.

John is married with four daughters and his interests include fishing, skiing, cricket, golf, tennis and supporting his family’s equestrian ambitions.

Cleeves Palmer was born in West Dorset and on leaving Canford School he joined Palmers Brewery for 6 months before undergoing graduate training with Whitbread. He returned to Palmers in 1982 as Sales Manager, becoming Sales Director in 1983. From 1989-2000 he was Marketing and Wine Director, becoming Sales and Marketing Director in 2001.

In both his professional and private life, Cleeves has chaired a wide range of good causes, including the restoration of the Real Tennis Court at the Hyde in Walditch. He is past President of the Melplash Show.

A keen downhill ski racer, cricketer, tennis player and fly fisherman, he is a past Chairman and President of the Kandahar Ski Club. He founded the Amateur Inter-Club Ski Championship (AICC) in 2008. He is married to ‘Dwina and they have a daughter  Sophie and son Mark.

Emily was appointed to the Board of Directors of Palmers in 2015 and joined the business fulltime in 2020. In her ‘previous life’ Emily lived and worked in London for nine years, working in Strategy & Corporate Development for Rothschild & Co, reviewing and delivering strategic projects for the group, and prior to that in Mergers & Acquisitions, helping advise on the sale of a number of consumer and retail businesses including Sipsmith and Farrow and Ball. During this time Emily also attained the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting.

Emily studied Biology at Bristol University, where she met her husband Josh. They share a huge passion for wine (as well as beer!); they jointly studied for the WSET Wine & Spirits exams and spend most holidays discovering different wine regions. Emily enjoys most active pursuits, particularly walking and skiing, but realises she may have to pick up golf at some point to keep up with the rest of the management team at the Palmers’ Golf Day.

Jim joined Palmers in mid 2017 having spent the previous 17 years living in west London.

Jim started his career at the OXO tower, progressing through to senior management positions at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, The Savoy and Harvey Nichols Fifth floor before spreading his wings into multi-site management over a large geography with Mitchells and Butlers Browns Restaurants and Premium Country Dining group then, 4 years with Greene King’s Metropolitan Pub Company.

Now settled in Dorset with his wife and children, Jim can regularly be found picking up fossils along the beaches of Charmouth and Lyme and, is working hard on reducing his golf handicap to a respectable level.

Owen joined Palmers as Finance Director and Company Secretary in early 2021 following 7 years at Agincare. Originally from Llanelli west Wales, Owen settled in Dorset over 25 years ago. His family, including his wife and three adult children, know Dorset as home.

After his economics degree Owen qualified as a management accountant and has experience in heavy plant, commercial printing, offshore oil, care and now, the brewing industry. These roles have seen Owen travel extensively throughout Europe and the US, and an 18 month assignment in the Pacific Rim countries based in Perth, Australia.

Outside of work Owen is the Welfare Officer at Bere Regis Cricket Club and his interests include history: military, industrial and ancient Dorset and, of course, real ale, pubs and breweries.

Darren Batten was born and bred in West Dorset. In 1992 he joined the Palmers’ bottling team as a Biology graduate, employed to write operating instructions for small pack operations. Following a WSET Higher Certificate, Diploma in Management Studies and an IBD Diploma in Brewing, he became Head Brewer in 2007.

He is devoted to real ale, interested in people and a great believer in teamwork, having spent many years interviewing and employing the majority of the brewery personnel.

He’s a keen sportsman and enjoys cycling, golf, cricket, skiing and long alley skittles. As a long-serving parish councillor and Round Tabler, Darren is involved in the community at many levels and supports many village pubs. Having travelled widely abroad, he’s recently bought a campervan and intends to explore more of the British Isles.

Born and bred in Dorset, Wayne Causley joined Palmers as Company Surveyor in 1996 taking responsibility for the whole property portfolio. Over the years, Wayne has project managed numerous successful pub refurbishments and is known for taking a real ‘hands on’ approach on site.

A passionate sports fan, Wayne is a regular at Anfield, watching his beloved Liverpool FC. Aside from football, Wayne enjoys watching live sports and music events.

Tom Hutchings was born in Bristol. He joined Courage Free Trade at the start of his career in the drinks industry and later moved to Dorset with his family to take up the appointment with Palmers. His interests include sailing, fishing and travel.