Who is...

Emeric Pressburger

Born in Hungary in 1902; he ended his days in Suffolk, living as next door neighbour to Barry and Henry from 1970 until shortly before his death in 1988. He was a screenwriter, film director, and producer, best known for his collaborations with Michael Powell in the 1940’s and ‘50’s. Their most famous films “A Matter of Life and Death”, “The Red Shoes” and “The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp” are being re-discovered thanks in no small part to Martin Scorsese, who attributes much of his early influence at the door of Powell and Pressburger.

Barry and Henry Chevallier’s mother would have lunch with Emeric every Tuesday, where he served wine in glasses that held half a bottle each, only served after he had had a bottle of imported beer that she could never remember the name of. It was only many years later when Henry met Emeric’s grandson Andrew MacDonald that the story was completed. Emeric fell in love with Czech beer when he studied in Prague, and not being able to find it when he moved to England he imported it himself, claiming to be the first importer of Czech beer into the UK. He is remembered with great affection by the Chevallier family, and this classic Bohemian Pilsner is our homage to a man whose influence will be long remembered.