Sadness as historic city brewery to close doors after 190 years

The famous factory, now owned by the Carlsberg group, started brewing in the city in 1822 but closure plans were originally announced in 2008.

All Tetley’s Cask beer will be brewed at the Marston’s-owned Banks’s brewery in Wolverhampton, while Tetley’s Smoothflow has been moved to Molson Coors’ brewery in Tadcaster and dark ales, such as Tetley’s Mild, have been outsourced to Cameron’s Brewery in Hartlepool.

Yesterday local campaigner Stuart Long said: “Tetley’s is a Leeds beer and has always been brewed in the city and should therefore remain in the city. The closure of the Tetley’s Brewery will be a sad day for Leeds.”

Certain parts of the brewery site need to be decommissioned and work is scheduled to start in September, continuing until the middle of 2012. The company says local residents and organisations have been informed.

Along with several buildings and facilities on site, the main reception building, which also houses the famous Tetley’s war memorial, and the gatehouse will also remain in use.

Carlsberg UK is currently in discussions with businesses who are interested in occupying or making use of some of the facilities and buildings on site and it says further details will be provided later.

The company says constructive ongoing discussions are continuing with Leeds City Council and other interested parties regarding proposals for the future use of the site. This includes the wider development of the Leeds South Bank area, incorporating a proposed city centre park.

Some Carlsberg UK staff will still continue to work on site. The majority, employed in the telesales and credit control functions, will be based in Tetley’s House.