Plans to shut Marston's Brewery in Burton revealed

Marston's Brewery could close in Burton-upon-Trent, under plans revealed by its owners.

Carlsberg Britvic said it was proposing to shut the facility together with its primary logistics operation based at that site next summer. About 310 people are affected.

Burton-upon-Trent's connections with the brewing industry date back centuries, with the firm describing its own history and legacy in the town as "iconic".

However, it said the "stark reality" was that UK cask ale volumes had more than halved in less than a decade and "this trend looks set to continue across the UK".

The company said "priority brands" including Hobgoblin, McEwan's and Brooklyn were expected to remain in its portfolio, but it is unclear where they will be brewed.

Other, smaller brands could find a home under specialist or local brewers, the firm said.

Some have described Burton as the "beer capital of England", and at its height more than 30 breweries once operated from there.

The Staffordshire town's connection with beer dates back to the 11th Century when monks first started brewing, and Marston's own links to Burton date back more than 200 years.

Camra chairman Ash Corbett-Collins, who grew up in Burton, said statements from Carlsberg about understanding the importance of the brewery to the town "come far too little too late for most people".

"This announcement is an absolute disgrace, and the latest in a string of actions that show how little they care about our brewing heritage or the nation's drinkers."

But he agreed "with Carlsberg on one thing", adding the "time is right to think about alternative, independent, brewers who are willing to become custodians of Carlsberg's cask brands".

Carlsberg Britvic said it told colleagues and trade union partners the news earlier on Thursday.

CEO Paul Davies said the proposal was "by no means a reflection on any of our people, and every effort will be made to help them through this period of uncertainty".

He added Marston's Brewery and the primary logistics operation were expected to continue to operate "during the transition period, while the company works through the detail of the consultation".

"As and when key decisions are taken over the coming months, we will share further information with the industry, but always with our colleagues first."

Davies said it was important to ensure the firm's portfolio was focused "where consumers are today, and where customer demand is growing".

He added: "That said, smaller ale brands are much loved by select consumers, and we will do everything we can to ensure they thrive under more specialist or local ownership in the future."

It is not the first big brewing firm to move operations in the West Midlands.

Banks's Brewery pulled production out of Wolverhampton in 2025, after 150 years, moving it to Burton.

Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC) had announced in 2024 that the Burton facility would close as part of a company restructuring.

That year, Carlsberg acquired Marston's PLC's remaining 40% shareholding in CMBC, giving Carlsberg full ownership of the brewing business, including Marston's Brewery and its portfolio of beer brands.

Hospitality firm Marston's PLC is now a completely separate operation. It runs more than 1,300 pubs across the UK from its base in Wolverhampton and is unaffected by Thursday's news.

Burton beer is known for its earthy, eggy smell - known in brewing circles as "Burton snatch" - a sure sign of the ale's quality and provenance.

This is created by the water trickling through unusually thick bands of gypsum under the town, before resting in underground aquifers.

Staffordshire County Council's leader, Reform's Martin Murray, said British beer was famous across the world and over the years much of that had come out of Burton.

"For us to lose that heritage personally saddened me greatly," he said.

The leader of the opposition at the authority, Conservative Philip White, said the "decision means Marston's Pedigree and Bass Ale will no longer be brewed in Burton".

He added: "We must do everything we can to try and reverse this decision and look after all of the workers and their families."

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