Carlsberg Britvic has proposed a Marston’s Brewery closure that would end brewing at its historic site in Burton upon Trent in summer 2027. On Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, Carlsberg Britvic told colleagues and trade unions it plans to shut the brewery and the primary logistics operation on the site, subject to consultation. About 310 roles are directly affected, according to CEO Paul Davies’ letter to CAMRA.
Hobgoblin, McEwan’s and Brooklyn stay in the company’s portfolio, while new homes are being sought for its other cask and regional ales, which it hasn’t named. Earthlings, nothing is final yet, but Bureau sensors log this as a major tremor for British cask ale.
Why Carlsberg Britvic proposed the Marston’s Brewery closure
The company blames “structural category decline” and a need to create greater long-term value. “The stark reality is 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 said in the announcement. In his letter to CAMRA, he noted that Burton is “where all our cask ale is brewed.”
Carlsberg took full ownership of the brewing business in July 2024, when it bought Marston’s PLC’s remaining 40% of Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company. Marston’s PLC, now a separate pub company that runs more than 1,300 pubs, per the BBC, isn’t affected. According to the company’s history page, John Marston founded the brewery in Burton in 1834, and it moved to the Albion Brewery in 1898.
Hobgoblin stays. Pedigree and the rest?
Hobgoblin, McEwan’s and Brooklyn remain priority brands, though the BBC notes it’s unclear where they will be brewed. For the rest, Davies told CAMRA the company is “in active engagement with potential partners” to find “suitable long-term custodians.”
Carlsberg Britvic hasn’t said which brands could be sold. Philip White, the Conservative opposition leader on Staffordshire County Council, told the BBC the decision means Marston’s Pedigree and Bass “will no longer be brewed in Burton.” That’s his reading; the company hasn’t confirmed it.
The jobs: about 310, depending on who’s counting
The press release gave no number. In his letter to CAMRA, which the group published, Davies cited “the approximately 310 colleagues whose roles are directly affected.” The BBC and The Independent also put the figure at about 310, while CAMRA’s own statement says around 300 jobs are at risk. The site is expected to keep running during the transition, and the company says it will look for redeployment opportunities.
CAMRA: “an absolute disgrace”
“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.”
Ash Corbett-Collins, chairman, CAMRA
Corbett-Collins, who grew up in Burton, made the statement on behalf of CAMRA. He did agree the time is right for independent brewers to become custodians of Carlsberg’s cask brands. CAMRA also renewed its call for a Competition and Markets Authority investigation of the UK beer market.
For another big-brewer shake-up, see the Bureau’s report on Stone Brewing Escondido closing.
Quick answers
Is Marston’s Brewery closing?
- Not yet. Carlsberg Britvic has proposed the Marston’s Brewery closure, subject to consultation, and says no final decisions have been made.
When would Marston’s Brewery close?
- Under the proposal, in summer 2027. The brewery and its logistics operation are expected to keep operating during the transition.
Will Hobgoblin still be made?
- Yes. Hobgoblin, McEwan’s and Brooklyn remain in Carlsberg Britvic’s portfolio, though the company hasn’t said where they’ll be brewed.
Raymond
Terry Bunch
