Plans to shut Marston's Brewery in Burton revealed
Burton-upon-Trent's links with beer and brewing date back centuries.
Plans to close Marston's Brewery in Burton have been announced
Marston's Brewery, along with its history and legacy in the town, was described as "iconic" by Carlsberg Britvic.
Under plans set out by its owners, Marston's Brewery could shut in Burton-upon-Trent. Carlsberg Britvic said it was proposing to close the site, along with its main logistics operation based there, next summer. Around 310 people are affected.
Burton-upon-Trent’s ties to brewing go back centuries, and the company said its own history and legacy in the town were "iconic".
But it said the "stark reality" was that UK cask ale volumes had fallen by more than half in less than 10 years and "this trend looks set to continue across the UK".
The company said "priority brands" such as Hobgoblin, McEwan's and Brooklyn were expected to stay in its portfolio, although it is not yet clear where they will be brewed.
The firm said other, smaller brands could be taken on by specialist or local brewers.
Burton has been called the "beer capital of England", and at its peak more than 30 breweries operated there.
The Staffordshire town’s beer links date back to the 11th Century, when monks first began brewing.
Camra chairman Ash Corbett-Collins, who grew up in Burton, said Carlsberg’s comments about understanding the brewery’s importance 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."
He added that he did agree "with Carlsberg on one thing", saying 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 had informed colleagues and trade union partners 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 said Marston's Brewery and the main logistics operation were expected to keep operating "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."
Then prime minister David Cameron gave US president Barak Obama a crate of Hobgoblin at the G20 summit in Toronto in 2010
Davies said it was important to make sure the company’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."
This is not the first major brewing company to shift operations in the West Midlands.
Banks's Brewery moved production out of Wolverhampton in 2025, after 150 years, and relocated it to Burton.
Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company, based in Wolverhampton, had announced in 2024 that the Burton site would close as part of a restructuring.
Burton beer is known for its earthy, eggy smell - called "Burton snatch" in brewing circles - which is seen as a sign of the ale's quality and origin.
It is produced by water passing through unusually thick bands of gypsum beneath the town before settling in underground aquifers.