Carlsberg Britvic plans to close its Marston’s Brewery and logistics site in Burton upon Trent in summer 2027, affecting approximately 310 jobs amid declining cask ale volumes.
Carlsberg Britvic has announced a proposal to close its Marston’s Brewery in Burton upon Trent, along with its primary logistics operation at the site. The closure is scheduled for summer 2027, subject to consultation, and will affect approximately 310 colleagues whose roles are directly impacted.
The decision is driven by what the company describes as "structural category decline" in the UK ale market. Paul Davies, CEO of Carlsberg Britvic, stated that "UK cask ale volumes have more than halved in less than a decade, and this trend looks set to continue across the UK." Davies emphasized that the company must focus its multi-beverage portfolio where consumer demand is growing.
Despite the closure, Carlsberg Britvic confirmed that priority ale brands including Hobgoblin, McEwan’s, and Brooklyn will remain within its portfolio. The company is actively seeking new homes for other cask and regional ale brands currently produced at the Burton site. Davies noted, "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."
The proposed closure marks the latest in a series of brewery closures by the company, which previously shut sites including Tetley’s in Leeds, Jennings in the Lake District, Ringwood in Hampshire, Wychwood in Oxfordshire, and Banks’s in the West Midlands. The Burton upon Trent site has been a center of brewing knowledge for centuries.
Davies acknowledged the significance of the proposal, stating, "Marston’s Brewery, its history and legacy in Burton upon Trent are iconic, and our teams there are true experts in ale." He assured that the brewery and logistics operation would continue to operate during the transition period while the company works through the consultation details. The company has committed to providing practical, emotional, and professional support to affected colleagues and exploring redeployment opportunities.
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) reacted strongly to the announcement. Ash Corbett-Collins, CAMRA Chairman, described the move as "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."
Corbett-Collins, who was born and raised in Burton, stated that statements from Carlsberg about understanding the brewery's importance "come far too little too late." However, CAMRA agreed with Carlsberg’s assertion that it is time to consider alternative, independent brewers as custodians for the cask brands. "Like the rescue of Jennings in Cumbria by passionate and experienced brewers, I hope the Burton brewery can be saved," Corbett-Collins said.
CAMRA has renewed its demands for the Competition and Markets Authority to investigate the UK beer market, arguing that global conglomerates lock out independent brewers. The company has written to CAMRA, stating it is in active engagement with potential partners to find "suitable long-term custodians" for traditional ale brands.
The closure of the Marston’s Brewery highlights the ongoing contraction of the UK cask ale market and the strategic shift of major beverage companies toward categories with higher growth potential. It raises significant concerns for the preservation of historic brewing heritage and the future of traditional ale brands, prompting calls for regulatory scrutiny of market consolidation in the beer sector.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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