For the first time in its 149-year history, Spanish brewer Damm has opened a brewery outside the Iberian Peninsula. Following a £70 million (USD 88 million) investment, the company has inaugurated The Damm Eagle Brewery in Bedford, England — a complete modernisation of the former Charles Wells site, acquired from Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company in 2022 (inside.beer, 7.11.2022).
The new facility, strategically located between London and Birmingham, has nearly doubled its capacity to 1.8 million hectolitres per year. It features a state-of-the-art canning line, an additional brewstream, and advanced syrup-handling and mixing technologies that allow the production of both beers and soft drinks. This diversification marks Damm’s entry into the “beyond beer” segment and reflects the group’s ambition to become the UK’s largest independent beer company.
According to Managing Director Jorge Villavecchia, the investment “brings skills, innovation and a vision of how industry must evolve to remain competitive: more digital, more sustainable, more resilient.” The project also aims to strengthen the brewer’s environmental footprint and operational efficiency while meeting growing British demand for its Mediterranean lager Estrella Damm, brewed on-site since spring 2024.
The Bedford site’s opening was attended by Jason Stockwood, UK Minister for Investment, and Ceri Morgan CBE, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner to Europe. Stockwood described the project as “a vote of confidence in the UK,” highlighting its contribution to local employment, innovation, and sustainability. Since acquiring the facility, Damm has tripled its number of direct UK employees from 56 to 180 and plans to double that figure again through new production lines and innovation programmes.
As part of its broader strategy, Damm will launch an accelerator programme in the UK to support beverage start-ups and foster collaboration in innovation, production, and distribution. This initiative will turn Bedford into a hub for “beyond beer” research and product development, underscoring the company’s commitment to sustainable growth and local engagement.
Approaching its 150th anniversary in 2026, Damm’s Bedford investment represents a pivotal step in its international expansion, consolidating its position as one of Spain’s leading brewers and strengthening its foothold in Europe’s premium beer market.
