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Can't claim this was much of a shock when I heard it on the news. There was no way that a global multinational was going to keep two independent production facilities running without them being "synergised".

Wouldn't expect they'll change the stout brands just yet, but with the many and varied lagers and the various licensing agreements, it'd be a guess to which way they'll go.

No surprise but a shame. One of the oldest breweries in the country and another bit of history gone, esp with the Diageo closures as well.

It certainly would have taken a big investment to get the brewery up to scratch. I was however interested by the 'capacity' comment. There's plenty of room at Beamish and Crawford, there are some building that are nothing more than empty shells. No doubt the market value of the land had something to do with this as well.

I really hope that they can at least somehow keep the Counting House facade if the site is redeveloped for, I wonder, something radical like shops and flats maybe.

The "half-timbered frontage" is on the record of protected structures, but the rest is likely fair game.

Can someone local check if the visitors' centre is still going to be running until the place closes? It's not very impressive, by all accounts, but last chance to see and all that.

Anyone here put bids in for the kit yet, btw? <!-- s:P --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_razz.gif" alt="" title="Razz" /><!-- s:P -->

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:3nojgqky wrote: Anyone here put bids in for the kit yet, btw? <!-- s:P --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_razz.gif" alt="" title="Razz" /><!-- s:P -->[/quote:3nojgqky]

I offered them a swap for a second hand WV Golf and fourteen boxes of knock-off designer sunglasses, still awaiting a reply.

I'm cautiously optimistic.

As far as i am aware the Well fill the kegs themselves using some newfangled doohikey that is similar to the full size keg filler.

I suppsoe this closure was on the cards once the takeover was finally approved. It will be interesting to see what will happen the site of B&C Brewery and yes the end of an era etc.

As for their brands and future breweig Heineken PR are saying all the right things about what a great brewery it was etc. etc. They will be brewing Beamish in their Heineken/Murphy's site. It can never fully be the same again as there will be a different water supply for a start. I would not be too concerned about what laters they will carry on brewing as IMHO none of them are worth talking about anyway. I would hope they would be fully committed to the Bemaish Stout and develop the Red too as it sells anroad a fair bit I belieeve. I only hope they will continue to promote Beamish stout and not let it slowly die which would be my fear. That would be a great shame. It will be up to us sometimes regular beamish drinkers to remind tghem we are here!

In fairness to Heineken they did stabilise and develop the Lady's well brewery and developed the Murphy's brand substantially over the years and hopefully they will do likewise with Beamish.