Carlsberg-Marston Tour of Destruction continues as Ringwood Brewery closes Jan 24
In the Morning Advertiser Top 10 best-selling (by volume) cask beers of 2023 Carlsberg-Marstons have two entries- Pedigree and Wainwright. Its good that commitment to cask by a global big beer company continues.
The commitment however has limits. In the last year or so Carlsberg Marstons have shut Jennings and Wychwood Breweries and have now announced that Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire will close in January 2024.
It has been on the market for six months and found no buyers. Carlsberg Marston say that the site has restricted space meaning that modernisation and expansion would be difficult and expensive. And anyway they have large breweries elsewhere that can brew the beer and will. Most of Ringwood’s beers will be produced by Banks and Old Thumper will be brewed at Marstons.
A redundancy consultation has started with 10 jobs at risk. Its to be hoped that those in scope get better than a statutory redundancy payment.
In terms of the beer it will no doubt taste not quite the same removed from its Hampshire roots, and it will be trucked around the UK with an associated environmental impact. However Ringwood beers appear on the Wetherspoons list so it already is.
The bottom line point is that when Big Beer buys a small brewery, well regarded for its beer, it wants not the brewery- brewing can be done more cheaply elsewhere- but at best the brands. For community, local focus and employment and environmental impact it cares not a great deal. After all when your business is global what happens in Ringwood doesn’t seem that important.
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