Carlsberg is to close the historic Marston's Brewery in Burton upon Trent as drinkers turn away from traditional cask ale.
The brewery and its main logistics operation are expected to shut next summer as the Danish brewing giant scales back production of traditional British beers, putting around 310 jobs at risk.
The closure will bring an end to almost 200 years of Marston's brewing in Burton, which is one of the most important towns in British brewing history.
John Marston founded the brewery in the Staffordshire town in 1834, before moving production to its current site on Shobnall Road in 1898.
Burton became known for its beer thanks partly to the town's mineral-rich water, which helped give its pale ales their distinctive taste. At its peak, the town was home to more than 30 breweries.
Marston's went on to become one of Britain's best-known brewers, producing ales including Pedigree and Bass.
However, the industry has been hit by a prolonged decline in demand for traditional cask ale as drinkers increasingly turn to lager and other alternatives.
Carlsberg Britvic said sales of cask ale across Britain had more than halved in less than a decade, making it increasingly difficult to justify keeping the historic brewery open.
The decision has prompted a furious backlash from campaigners, who accused the Danish company of abandoning Britain's brewing heritage .
Ash Corbett-Collins, the chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale, said: "This announcement is an absolute disgrace, and the latest in a string of actions that show how little they care about our brewing heritage or the nation's drinkers."
Mr Corbett-Collins, who grew up in Burton, called for the brewery to be rescued by an independent operator .
Carlsberg said it would continue selling brands, including Hobgoblin, McEwan's and Brooklyn, but was seeking buyers for other traditional and regional ales.
It has not disclosed which brands could be sold or where those it retains will be brewed.
Paul Davies, the chief executive of Carlsberg Britvic, said: "Marston's Brewery, [and] its history and legacy in Burton upon Trent are iconic, and our teams there are true experts in ale."
But he added: "The stark reality is that UK cask ale volumes have more than halved in less than a decade, and this trend looks set to continue across the UK."
The closure came just two years after Carlsberg ended production at Banks's Brewery in Wolverhampton, bringing 150 years of brewing in the city to an end. Production was transferred to Burton at the time.
Carlsberg took full control of Marston's brewing operations in 2024, when it bought the remaining 40pc stake in a joint venture established four years earlier.
Marston's separate pubs business, which operates more than 1,300 sites across Britain, is unaffected by the closure.
Carlsberg said the Burton site would remain operational during a consultation and transition period, with the company seeking to find alternative employment for affected staff.
