Commenting on the decision by Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company to close Cumbria’s Jennings Brewery CAMRA Chairman Nik Antona said:
“The announcement from Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) that they intend to shut and sell the Jennings Brewery site in Cockermouth is a devastating blow for the area’s brewing heritage.
“It is vital that CMBC do everything they can to keep the site as a working brewery rather than having this part of our history lost to conversion to housing or another use.
“Instead of shifting production of Jenning’s Cumberland to Burton we’d also encourage CMBC to look at ways of continuing to produce the beer somewhere in Cumbria.
“Sadly, this is now an expected consequence of global brewers entering and consolidating the UK beer market – shutting distinctive regional brands and eroding the nation’s brewing history.
“In these situations, it’s consumers and independent producers that suffer, as small brewers struggle further to access the pub market and choice at the bar is restricted.
“That’s why I am calling on CMBC to think again and commit to selling Jennings as a going concern so we can save this historic site as a brewery and prevent redevelopment.”
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CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is a not-for-profit consumer group with over 160,000 members that has been operating since 1971. Our vision is to have quality real ale and thriving pubs in every community.
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