Marston’s to take over 150 Welsh pubs

UK brewer and pub operator Marston’s is to take over the running of the entire portfolio of Wales-based brewer Brains after the business was put under “significant pressure” by Covid-19 restrictions.

The Welsh brewer was forced to shutter 100 pubs earlier this month as the Welsh government put in place a fresh raft of stringent measures in a bid to control the spread of Covid-19.

The disruptions of the last lockdown alone are thought to have cost the brewery’s pub business in excess of £1.5 million and placed the company under “significant financial pressure”, according to chairman John Rhys.

The brewery has come to an arrangement with Marston’s, however, who will add the entire portfolio of 156 pubs to its own, saving over 1,000 jobs in the process.

The BBC reported that the deal is likely to close in February 2021 and will see the pubs continue to trade under the Brains logo and selling the brewery’s beers.

Ralph Findlay, chief executive of Marston’s, said: “We look forward to the pub teams joining us and to welcoming guests and the communities which they serve, back into these pubs as the country emerges from the pandemic over the weeks and months ahead.”