Worshipful Company of Coopers

What Worshipful Company of Coopers does

The Worshipful Company of Coopers is a City of London Livery Company (trade guild) established by Royal Charter from Henry VII in 1501, ranking 36th in the City of London Livery hierarchy. It functions as a private, non-profit membership organization whose stated purpose is preserving the ancient craft of coopering (cask making), administering six principal charitable trusts focused on poverty relief, education, and heritage preservation, and supporting two associated educational institutions — The Coopers' Company and Coborn School in Upminster and Strode's College in Egham. Governance rests on a Court of Assistants led by the Master (Tony Miller, installed 2026) and Wardens, with a separate Society of the Livery founded in 1827 representing Liverymen; admission requires a current member sponsor and Court approval.

The Company's product surface is narrow. Its principal commercial offering is Coopers' Hall venue hire — a Pre-Georgian Town House at 13 Devonshire Square in the City of London available for private dining (up to 32 guests), conferences, meetings, and receptions (up to 50 buffet), operated through the 'eve' hospitality management partner. Revenue also derives from membership contributions (Freemen and Liverymen), charitable CIO grant-making administered via six principal trusts (Harold Griffin Fund, Palmer Foundation, Strode's Egham Pension, Ratcliff Pension Charity, Cloker Bequest, William Alexander Coopers' Liveryman Fund), and the Coopers' Livery Housing Fund (CLHF) which has financed sheltered accommodation including Coopers Court (Tower Hamlets, 40 flats) and Coopers Chase (Enham, 10 study bedrooms). The organization maintains uniformed affiliations with the Army Cadet Force, RAF 99 Squadron, HMS President, Household Cavalry Regiment, and St John Ambulance, and is a member of the Cask Group alongside the Worshipful Company of Distillers. There is no proprietary technology platform; operations are administered by approximately four staff including the Clerk, Assistant Clerk, Executive Assistant, and Finance Manager.

Name

Worshipful Company of Coopers

Legal name

The Worshipful Company of Coopers

Website

https://coopers-hall.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Worshipful Company of Coopers is a 1501-founded City of London Livery Company that preserves the craft of coopering, administers six principal charities, supports two educational institutions, and operates venue hire at Coopers' Hall for its membership of Freemen and Liverymen.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

City of London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Venue Hire: Coopers' Hall is available for exclusive hire, providing revenue through rental of the venue for private dining events, meetings, conferences, and receptions. The Hall accommodates up to 32 guests for formal dining and up to 50 for buffet events, with separate Court Room and Dining Room available.
2. Charitable Grant-Making: The Coopers' Charity CIO makes grants for relief of poverty, education and learning, and preservation of heritage. The Charity administers six principal charities including Harold Griffin Fund, Palmer Foundation, Strode's Egham Pension and Eleemosynary Charity, Ratcliff Pension Charity, Cloker Bequest, and William Alexander Coopers' Liveryman Fund.
3. Membership Contributions: Members pay fees and contribute to the Company's charitable activities. The Company admits Freemen and Liverymen who participate in the governance and charitable mission.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Worshipful Company of Coopers is a City of London Livery Company that preserves the ancient craft of cask making, operates Coopers' Hall as an exclusive venue for private hire, and administers six principal charities focused on poverty relief, education, and heritage preservation. Its commercial offering is the hire of the Pre-Georgian Town House at 13 Devonshire Square for private dining, meetings, conferences, and receptions, supplemented by member fees and grant-making activities.

Product overview

The Worshipful Company of Coopers operates as a traditional City of London Livery Company focused on preserving the ancient craft of cask making. Its primary service offering is Coopers' Hall Venue Hire, providing exclusive access to a historic Pre-Georgian Town House at 13 Devonshire Square for private events including conferences, meetings, and dining. The Company also manages six principal charities and supports educational institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Coopers' Hall Venue Hire

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 2 Company, City of London & NE Sector, Army Cadet ForcecoreOthersThe Company has a close relationship with the Army Cadet Force, providing support to its staff and cadets. Cadets often form guards of honour at Coopers' events and accompany the Master and Wardens during the Lord Mayor's show.
• 99 Squadron, RAFcoreOthersAffiliated since 2005, 99 Squadron based at RAF Brize Norton operates C17 transport aircraft. The Company presented the Squadron with a restored historic cask for their Crew Room. One aircraft displays the Coopers' coat of arms.
• HMS PresidentcoreOthersUK's largest Royal Naval Reserve unit. The Company presents a cask of rum to the Lord Mayor during the Lord Mayor's Parade. Many members of HMS President also belong to the Coopers' Company.
• Household Cavalry RegimentminorOthersThe Company's newest affiliated unit, comprising The Life Guards and The Blues & Royals. Based in Bulford, providing armoured reconnaissance capability.
• St John Ambulance, Medical Response Team (MRT)minorOthersLondon and South Region's specialist resource for rapidly assessing, treating, and extracting patients from densely crowded areas.
• Shaftesbury Housing GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Coopers' Livery Housing Fund (CLHF) to create Coopers Court sheltered accommodation in Tower Hamlets (40 flats) and Coopers Chase in Enham (10 study bedrooms).
• The Coopers' Company and Coborn Educational FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation owns school premises; Company appoints seven of twelve Foundation Governors and six of twenty-one School Governors.
• eveminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHospitality management partner handling venue hire enquiries and themed dining experiences at Coopers' Hall.
• Worshipful Company of DistillersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCask Group member; organised the Inter-Livery Pétanque Competition at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Coopers participated with two teams.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths: Major Livery Company with a Hall used for events, charitable foundations, and craft-preservation mission (goldsmithing). Directly comparable in structure, scope of charitable work, and trade-anchored identity.
• Worshipful Company of Brewers: Livery Company tied to the brewing trade and thus directly relevant to the craft beverage revival the Coopers support. Operates a Hall with venue hire and runs charitable programmes, mirroring the Coopers' multi-revenue model.
• Worshipful Company of Mercers: Pre-eminent City of London Livery Company with similar Master/Wardens governance, charitable and educational trusts, and a historic Hall used for events. Comparable in mission structure, scale, and ceremonial role to the Coopers.
• Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors: Livery Company with Hall venue, charitable foundations, and significant educational links (Merchant Taylors' School). Same Master/Wardens structure and similar mix of membership, venue, and grant-making.
• Worshipful Company of Drapers: One of the Great Twelve Livery Companies operating Drapers' Hall as an event venue, with associated charitable and educational foundations. Highly comparable on governance, venue hire, and philanthropy model.
• Worshipful Company of Fishmongers: Great Twelve Livery Company running Fishmongers' Hall as an exclusive venue, with significant charitable and educational trust activity. Same Livery hierarchy positioning, charter-based governance, and revenue model.
• Worshipful Company of Skinners: Livery Company operating Skinners' Hall as a venue and administering charitable and educational trusts. Highly comparable on governance, scale of charitable giving, and education partnerships.
• Worshipful Company of Distillers: Livery Company already in Cask Group partnership with the Coopers. Anchored in a related heritage trade (distilling), runs a Hall, charitable activities, and uniformed affiliations — a close peer along craft-and-ceremonial lines.
• Worshipful Company of Haberdashers: Livery Company managing Haberdashers' Hall, charitable trusts, and a network of Haberdashers' schools. Closely comparable on the educational and charitable dimensions, with a similar governance framework.
• Worshipful Company of Grocers: One of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London, founded 1345. Operates Grocers' Hall as an exclusive event venue, runs charitable and educational trusts, and follows the same Master/Wardens/Court governance model as the Coopers — making it the closest structural and operational analogue.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cooperscompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/worshipful-company-of-coopers
• Instagraminstagram.com/cooperscompany

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Worshipful Company of Coopers