Molson Coors Beverage Co has proposed the closure of its Sharp’s brewery in the south-west of England by the end of the year.
The suggestions, confirmed by the group this week, are subject to consultation and form part of “broader proposals to reshape the UK & Ireland business to unlock efficiencies and cost-savings to fuel the company’s long-term growth”. The facility’s closure would result in 50 redundancies, plus a further 150 at a contact centre based in Wales.
Molson Coors said that since acquiring Sharp’s in 2011, it has invested GBP20m (US$27m) in the business, with closure being proposed “only after exploring every alternative option”. The brewer is investigating “a number of alternative production routes” for Sharp’s beers, which include Doom Bar and Atlantic Pale Ale, such as producing them in partnership with another brewery.
“The proposed closure of Sharp’s Brewery has not been an easy decision for us to make,” said UK & Ireland MD Simon Kerry. “It has been a significant part of our UK business for 15 years, with an exceptional and committed team who take such huge pride in their craft.
“We have invested significantly in the site and the Sharp’s brands over that time and have taken every step we can to try and avoid this outcome. However, the site is no longer financially sustainable as part of our national production network.”
The proposed closure of the ‘national contact centre’, meanwhile, was attributed to the digitalisation of purchasing habits, with almost 90% of Molson Coors’ on-premise orders now being placed through its e-commerce site. “Customer service will be fulfilled by the teams at Molson Coors’ UK&I HQ and supported by the capabilities of the My Molson Coors site,” the brewer said.
This week’s news follows a slew of brewery closures in the UK, with data from the Society of Independent Brewers & Associates (SIBA) suggesting almost three per week were closed in 2025.
Last week, it emerged that BrewDog had appointed restructuring specialists to consider its investment options, although a sale of the Scottish craft brewer is reportedly “underway”.
