Marston’s Brewery could close in Burton-upon-Trent, under plans revealed by its owners.
Carlsberg Britvic said it was proposing to shut the facility together with its primary logistics operation based at that site next summer. About 310 people are affected.
Burton-upon-Trent’s connections with the brewing industry date back centuries, with the firm describing its own history and legacy in the town as “iconic”.
However, it said the “stark reality” was that UK cask ale volumes had more than halved in less than a decade and “this trend looks set to continue across the UK”.
The company said “priority brands” including Hobgoblin, McEwan’s and Brooklyn were expected to remain in its portfolio, but it is unclear where they will be brewed.
Other, smaller brands could find a home under specialist or local brewers, the firm said.
Some have described Burton as the “beer capital of England”, and at its height more than 30 breweries once operated from there.
The Staffordshire town’s connection with beer dates back to the 11th Century when monks first started brewing, and Marston’s own links to Burton date back more than 200 years.
