Some of the country’s most iconic cask ales, including Banks’s Mild, will no longer be served in pubs following the Carlsberg buyout of Marston’s UK brewing operations.

Fears that powerful global brewers will drastically reduce consumer choice in the UK have been realised as Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing company (CMBC) confirmed it is axing eight classic British cask beers, including Ringwood Old Thumper (pictured). 

The decision to delist these brands by the end of the year further proves that the conglomerate, which now owns a sizable chunk of the UK brewing scene, will have a huge impact on pubs and pub-goers, having closed Jennings brewery, sold the Eagle brewery, and announced the closure of Banks’s brewery. CMBC’s latest move will deal brewing, consumer choice, and industry jobs another blow. 

Despite an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority finding that the merger of Marston’s and Carlsberg would not have negative effects, it is now confirmed the merger of the businesses will be followed by the consolidation of their brands, resulting in a huge loss of choice at the bar for consumers. 

Eight cask beers and a further three keg brands will no longer be available to pubs, regardless of whether licensees wish to order them, including big names like Banks’s Mild and Bombardier.

CAMRA’s cider and perry campaigns director and vice chair Gillian Hough said: “This is another example of a globally owned business wiping out UK brewing heritage. I hope this change will mean space on the bar for licensees to stock guest beers from local independent breweries, but realistically, I suspect this isn't what CMBC plans. 

“This loss of consumer choice is the inevitable outcome of a brewing conglomerate run by accountants and the bottom line. This is a sad and disappointing decision that puts both the history and the future of British brewing in jeopardy.” 

The delisted beers include:
Banks’s Mild
Banks’s Sunbeam
Bombardier
Eagle IPA
Jennings Cumberland Ale
Mansfield Dark Smooth
Mansfield Original Bitter 
Marston’s Old Empire
Marston’s 61 Deep
Ringwood Boondoggle 
Ringwood Old Thumper