Sharp's Brewery in Cornwall to Shut Down by US Owner Molson Coors
The iconic Cornish brewery that produces the beloved Doom Bar ale is set to be closed by its American owner, Molson Coors, casting uncertainty over the future of the popular beer brand and endangering approximately 200 jobs. The drinks giant announced plans to shut down Sharp's Brewery in Rock, Wadebridge, along with its national call centre in Wales, citing financial unsustainability as the primary reason.
Heritage Under Threat as Global Brewer Exits Cornwall
Founded in 1994, Sharp's Brewery has become a cornerstone of Cornwall's brewing heritage, with Doom Bar emerging as one of the top-selling cask ales in the United Kingdom. Named after a perilous sandbank in Cornwall's Camel estuary, Doom Bar is complemented by other brands such as Atlantic and Twin Coast pale ales. However, Molson Coors, which acquired Sharp's for £20 million in 2011, now claims the site is no longer viable within its national production network.
Tom Stainer, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), expressed deep concern, stating that this move represents yet another instance of a global brewing conglomerate eroding the nation's cask brewing legacy. He emphasized that Sharp's has been crafting cask beer for over three decades, and its potential dismantling overnight is a significant loss. Stainer further criticized any proposals to brew Cornish beers outside the region, labeling such plans as a disgrace that undermines the authenticity of local products.
Economic and Cultural Impact on Cornwall
The closure has sparked outrage among local politicians and community members. Ben Maguire, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, described the shutdown as a devastating blow to the local economy and the already struggling hospitality sector in Cornwall. He urged ministers to consider granting Cornish beers and ales protections similar to those afforded to Cornish pasties, ensuring that products branded as Cornish are genuinely produced within the region.
Molson Coors has indicated that it is exploring potential agreements with other producers to continue manufacturing Sharp's beer brands, possibly in other parts of the country. However, this has done little to assuage fears about the loss of local jobs and cultural identity. Simon Kerry, managing director of Molson Coors in the UK and Ireland, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but stressed that the site's financial unsustainability necessitated the closure as part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at unlocking efficiencies and cost savings for long-term growth.
Job Losses and Digital Shifts
Approximately 50 employees at the Rock brewery face redundancy, alongside 150 workers at the call centre in Wales. Molson Coors attributed the closure of the contact centre to a significant shift in customer behavior, with nearly 90% of orders now conducted online. Kerry noted that the company has evolved its business as part of a digitization journey, and the proposed closure reflects these changes rather than the performance of the teams involved.
This development highlights ongoing tensions between global corporate interests and local heritage preservation in the brewing industry. As Molson Coors moves forward with its plans, the fate of Sharp's Brewery and its iconic beers remains uncertain, leaving many to ponder the future of authentic Cornish brewing traditions.
