There was hardly time to draw breath from the Morland of Abingdon closure by Greene King in February, when the announcement came that Usher's of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, the South West's biggest brewery, was to close also, writes Gene Bailey.
Usher's dates from 1824, and won back its independence following a management buy-out in 1991 after being swallowed-up by Watney's (later Grand Metropolitan) in 1960.
A management buy-out of the brewery from parent company, InnSpired, has been unsuccessful, but the brand names, such as Summer Madness, Autumn Frenzy and Founder's Ale, will remain, but will be brewed by Thamas Hardy in Dorchester and Burtonwood in Cheshire. This is another example of a company forsaking its brewing heritage to concentrate on retailing!

The lastest take-over to close a brewery occurred on 14th April, when it was announced that Hall and Woodhouse of Blandford, Dorset has suceeded in its bid for King & Barnes of Horsham, West Sussex. At the end of 1999, a hostile bid was made for King & Barnes by Shepard Neame of Faversham, Kent. King & Barnes reaction to this bid was 'laid-back' by anyone's measure, as they were certain their shareholders would not sell. By the end of January K & B knew they were in trouble and were shouting for help. Then in rode Hall and Woodhouse, otherwise known as Badger Brewery, with a successful offer and immediately announced plans to close the Horsham brewery. K & B brands are being tranferred to Blandford once taste matching is complete.

At CAMRA'S AGM in Derby, guest speaker, David Thompson, MD of Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries, predicted that there would be "a peppering" of brewery take-overs in the next few months. Well he should know if anyone would! It is known that one Manchester brewer is busily buying its own shares to pre-empt such a take-over bid. Watch this space for news...

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