Southwold, Suffolk – The taps are running dry at Adnams, one of Britain’s most cherished breweries, as it announced its closure after more than four decades of crafting iconic beers. On April 16, the family-owned company, a cornerstone of UK brewing since 1872, dropped the bombshell that its brewery doors would close for good, citing insurmountable financial pressures. The news hit like a pint glass shattering on a pub floor, leaving fans, workers, and the local community reeling.
Jonathan Adnams, the brewery’s chairman and scion of the founding family, laid bare the grim reality in a statement that carried the weight of a farewell toast. Rising costs—energy bills, raw materials, you name it—had squeezed the business to breaking point. Add to that a slump in demand as drinkers tightened their belts, and the math just didn’t add up. “It’s with a heavy heart we make this decision,” he said, his words steeped in the kind of raw emotion you’d hear from a mate confessing hard times over a beer. “We’ve fought tooth and nail to keep going, but the headwinds are too fierce.”
Adnams wasn’t just any brewery. Its Southwold Bitter and Ghost Ship ales were the stuff of legend, poured in pubs from Cornwall to Newcastle. The company’s roots stretch back to 1872, but it was the modern brewery, built in 1978, that became a beacon for craft beer lovers. Employing 120 people at its peak, it churned out 50,000 barrels a year, supplying watering holes across the UK and beyond. Its copper-domed brewery, perched on the Suffolk coast, was as much a landmark as the nearby lighthouse.
The closure isn’t just a blow to beer enthusiasts. Southwold’s economy, already battered by post-COVID tourism dips, faces a rough road ahead. Local pubs, many reliant on Adnams’ brews, are scrambling to rethink their menus. The brewery’s distribution arm, which handled wines and spirits, will keep running, but it’s cold comfort for the workers now facing redundancy. Adnams pledged to support its staff through the transition, offering retraining and job placement help, but for many, it’s the end of an era.
Industry watchers saw this coming. A report from the British Beer and Pub Association flagged 2024 as a brutal year for breweries, with 38 closures nationwide due to soaring costs and shifting consumer habits. Adnams, despite its pedigree, couldn’t dodge the storm. Efforts to sell the business or find investors fell flat, leaving liquidation as the only path.
The final day of brewing is set for May 31. After that, the vats will go quiet, and the brewery’s kit—those gleaming copper tanks—will likely be sold off. For now, Adnams’ beers are still on shelves, but once they’re gone, they’re gone. Pub-goers are already hoarding bottles, toasting memories of crisp pints and rowdy nights.
Southwold’s mayor, Jane Reynolds, called the closure “a gut punch” to the town’s identity. “Adnams wasn’t just a business,” she said on April 17. “It was our heart.” As the brewery’s sign comes down, it’s hard not to feel a chapter of British life closing with it.
Adnams employed 120 workers at its Southwold brewery. The company was founded in 1872 and began modern brewing operations in 1978. The closure was announced on April 16, 2025, with brewing to cease on May 31, 2025. The British Beer and Pub Association reported 38 UK brewery closures in 2024.