UK: Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company proposing to sell Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire

Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has revealed it is proposing to sell Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire citing the venue’s location being in a residential area makes expansion complicated as part of the reason, The Morning Advertiser reported on June 7.

Under the proposals, the site and the Ringwood ale brands, which include Boondoggle, Razorback and Old Thumper, would be put up for sale.

Furthermore, CMBC’s logistics operation at Ringwood would also close with deliveries relocated to the company’s depots at Tiverton and Farnborough, with support from the Cardiff depot.

Ringwood Brewery was founded in 1978 by Peter Austin initially and moved to its current premises in 1986 after outgrowing its previous location. In 2007, Marston's Brewery bought Ringwood for £19.2m.

In November last year, CMBC stated it was planning to sell the Eagle Brewery in Bedford to Spanish brewer SA Damm for an undisclosed sum.

This followed the announcement it was closing Cumbria-based Jennings Brewery, which was acquired by Marston’s in 2005 when plans were put in place to further invest in the site.

On the latest sale plans, CMBC chief executive officer Paul Davies said: “We are announcing our intention to put our Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire up for sale.

“This includes the rights for Ringwood’s well-loved ale brands. This is not a decision we have taken lightly – we have incredible respect for the effort and dedication of the team at Ringwood."

He added: “However, the brewery’s location in a residential area makes expansion complicated and as such, the investment required to bring its capacity and capability up to the level we need for our business is too great to be a viable path for CMBC.

“To ensure our future growth and simplify the business, we are looking for a new owner for Ringwood in the brewing industry, including its excellent range of local ales.

“We are confident that, by taking these actions now, we can ensure we continue to grow, innovate and deliver great beers across the UK, putting us in the best possible position to achieve success now and in the future.

“We have informed colleagues affected by these proposals at the brewery and our priority now is to support them through this process and to begin the search for the right buyer for Ringwood.”

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