UK: Debates brewing over Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries’s takeover bid for Jennings

Jennings shareholders have until May 19 to decide whether to accept Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries’s £45.8m takeover bid and decide the fate of the traditional brewer.

The Wolverhampton & Dudley Brewery has offered shareholders 430p a share, and promised that beer will continue to be brewed in the Lakeland town as it has for 180 years. Alistair Darby, managing director of W&DB Brands, said the Jennings brewery was not in danger. “The Jennings brands and brewery will be just as protected under our stewardship,” he said.

Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries (W&DB) has defended its record on cask ale as the deal to buy Jennings draws closer, according to The Publican.

But Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) members in West Cumbria are sceptical and organised on May 13 a press conference at the Bitter End pub in Cockermouth to make their views crystal clear. Guest speaker Mr Cunningham urged the 2,000-plus shareholders, whose decisions will decide the future of Jennings, to think long and hard.

He said: “I’m not saying that W&D are lying when they say that they will not close the brewery at Cockermouth. But people and circumstances change – that is the nature of the market place. If this take-over takes place and in 10 years time there is an over-capacity in beer, I don’t imagine it will be Marston’s brewery that will face the axe, it will be that one in remote Cumbria. He said: “The name Jennings is synonymous with Cockermouth. It is important that the brewery remains open for tourism reasons just as much as for employment reasons.

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