Molson Coors Beverage Company plans to close Sharp’s Brewery in Rock, Cornwall, as part of a restructuring of its UK and Ireland operations aimed at improving efficiency and reducing costs.
The proposal, which remains subject to consultation, could affect around 200 employees across the company’s UK operations. About 50 of these roles are located at the Rock brewery itself. According to the brewer, the site is no longer financially sustainable within its national production network despite more than GBP 20 million (USD 25 million) invested in expanding capacity, upgrading equipment and strengthening the Sharp’s portfolio since Molson Coors acquired the brewery in 2011.
Founded in 1994 by Bill Sharp, Sharp’s Brewery began as a small microbrewery in Cornwall before developing into a nationally distributed ale producer. Its flagship beer, Doom Bar, takes its name from a hazardous sandbank at the mouth of the Camel Estuary in north Cornwall and has become one of the most widely recognised cask and packaged ales in the UK.
Molson Coors stated that although the brewery site is expected to close, the Sharp’s brand portfolio will remain part of the group. Production of the beers could be transferred to other breweries within the company’s network or produced through external brewing partnerships.
According to Simon Kerry, managing director for Molson Coors in Western Europe, the decision followed extensive efforts to maintain operations at the site. He noted that the company had explored multiple options before concluding that the facility could no longer operate sustainably as part of the national production system.
Local stakeholders expressed concern about the potential economic impact. John Brown, chief executive of the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, described the possible job losses as a serious blow for the regional economy, while Ben Maguire, Member of Parliament for North Cornwall, warned that rising costs and policy pressures were already putting significant strain on hospitality businesses across the region.
The restructuring reflects a broader trend across the brewing industry, where large groups are consolidating production networks to offset rising energy, logistics and operating costs while maintaining established beer brands.
