Ringwood Brewery closure is a 'tragedy' for the town

Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC) has announced it is shutting Ringwood Brewery next month and moving the production of its ales elsewhere.

CMBC said it has been unable to find a buyer for the site and brand since putting it up for sale in June this year.

But the decision has come under fire from Anthony Swift, a former City corporate finance advisor who headed a group of private investors that tried to purchase the business.

Ringwood Brewery often took part in the New Forest Show at New Park, Brockenhurst (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Swift, of Fordingbridge, said: "This catastrophic announcement speaks volumes about the state of corporate Britain in the 2020s.

"Just ten years ago, Ringwood Brewery was operating at capacity, producing about 42,000 barrels of beer a year. Since then, it has lost 75 per cent of its production and its soul.

“There has been no support for the brands - when did you last see a Ringwood Brewery beer glass or a beer mat in a pub?

READ MORE: Carlsberg Marston decides to sell Ringwood Brewery after 'failing to find buyer' for site

"Sponsorships of great events like the New Forest Show, the Ellingham Show and the Great Dorset Steam Fair have been cancelled.

"Employment on the site has plummeted as operations have been corporately centralised and production of the bottled beers has been relocated to Burton-on-Trent.

"The much-loved brewery tours have been cancelled as they are, in corporate doublespeak, 'non-core' for Carlsberg Marston's. Even the production volumes are now measured in hectolitres."

Staff at Ringwood Brewery celebrate its 25th anniversary (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Swift said the consortium's plan had focused on reviving Ringwood Brewery as an independent brewer of local craft ales and a sponsor of popular events.

He added that the bid, had it been successful, would have increased the number of people employed on the site to 30-40.

"CMBC's decision is a tragedy for the customers of Ringwood Brewery but above all for the town of Ringwood, which looks set to lose a stack of jobs, a great visitor attraction, and a flagship local employer."

READ MORE: Ringwood Brewery - the Daily Echo looks back at the 45-year history of the famous firm

A spokesperson for CMBC said: "We conducted a formal and rigorous bidding process to ensure fairness and transparency.

"Over the past six months, despite our best efforts, we were unable to secure a credible offer which met our bidding threshold, and had to conclude there was no viable path forward for Ringwood.

"The wellbeing of our team was paramount. Continuing the bid process under such circumstances would not have been responsible.”