Marston's and Carlsberg UK forming a Joint Venture

[marshbrewer]

Marston's bottle a lot of independent brewers beer, and is the only reason you get to see beers from breweries like Bateman's on supermarket shelves. I hope that this JV doesn't affect that.

 

[terrym]

Marstons was founded in 1834...

This is just sad.

Marston Thompson and Evershed as they were originally known, which was an amalgamation of three brewers going back many years, were themselves bought out by the Wolverhampton and Dudley breweries (alias Banks and Hansons) some time back. The stock market name was the latter until it changed to Marstons a few years ago, possibly because that name was better known own. Even the existing Marstons brewery was originally built by Manns and bought by 'Marstons' around 1900.
It seems to me that breweries are constantly changing and evolving so this is no exception. Even so called craft and microbreweries come and go. They are all businesses at the end of the day with a need to stay solvent, the bigger ones with shareholders who require a return on their investment. But if I remember correctly the upheaval created in the late 1980s (?) by the Monopolies Commission who forced the big brewers of the day to split up was probably the biggest one of the lot.

 

[Clint]

Carlsberg will bin any jobs that aren't making decent money...and any breweries that pose any threat to their market share or ability to push their beers in somewhere.

 

[Wynne]

On my reading of the announcements from both companies, this appears to be Marston’s PLC exiting brewing in return for cash and a 40% stake in the combined business which on completion will be a 60% Carlsberg subsidiary and controlled by Carlsberg. The deal was well received by the stock market and Marston’s shares were up over 100% at close of business on Friday. Having set their strategic direction away from brewing, I would expect Marston’s will dispose of their 40% stake over next few years and for the new company to streamline its operations to deliver cost savings through site closures, manpower reductions and asset disposals. Completion of the deal is expected in Q3 2020 and remains subject to approval by Marston’s shareholders, consultation with employee representatives and competition law clearance. My personal hope is the Burton brewery with its long brewing heritage and amazing Burton Union system will have a secure future under new ownership by a company which, whether you enjoy their products or not, is committed to brewing beer in the UK.

 

[Galena]

Back in the seventies when I first discovered beer, the main choices for a real ale drinker (in Derby) was Pedigree or draught Bass, both were delicious ales if served correctly straight from the barrel. In recent years though since Marstons started brewing draught bass, both beers seem to have changed considerably and now both seem to be the same bland pseudo real Ale which I won't drink unless there is no other choice.
Now I could be wrong but the other breweries they have bought out like Sharp's (Doombar) seem to have suffered the same fate.
I guess they do make some half decent newer ales though but they are still usually my last choice but I would hate to see them dissappear.

 

[Galena]

I have a source inside Marstons who told me:
Carlsberg want in on the bitter and ales market currently they only have Tetley's. Also gives them a place on the bar which they struggle to get against carling and fosters. Marston's gets £270 million. No intentions to kill off Marston's beers etc... in fact we bottle around 15 x more a year than them.

 

[GerritT]

 

[Martin-68]

Back in the seventies when I first discovered beer, the main choices for a real ale drinker (in Derby) was Pedigree or draught Bass, both were delicious ales if served correctly straight from the barrel. In recent years though since Marstons started brewing draught bass, both beers seem to have changed considerably and now both seem to be the same bland pseudo real Ale which I won't drink unless there is no other choice.
Now I could be wrong but the other breweries they have bought out like Sharp's (Doombar) seem to have suffered the same fate.
I guess they do make some half decent newer ales though but they are still usually my last choice but I would hate to see them dissappear.

I was definitely a Pedigree man ,although cask ale pubs are becoming harder to find

 

[Clint]

Don't care what they say...they'll steal,*******ise,ruin and get rid...of everything...if they want bitter why don't they brew it?

 

[starseeker]

I like a drop of pedigree, but only bottle conditioned.

 

[PhilBrew]

Marston's Pedi , Thwaite's Mild/Dark Mild (they keep changing the name) and Jennings' Snecklifter ... three of my "Desert Island Beers" which were already difficult enough to find a well kept & served pint of (even before Covid-19) ... somehow I can't imagine this JV is going to make that challenge any easier

Cheers, PhilB