Future of Wrexham uncertain as bid is withdrawn

The future of Wrexham Lager is looking bleak after a bid by a local consortium to buy the UK's oldest lager brand from Carlsberg-Tetley (C-T) was withdrawn.

After examining the options put forward by C-T at talks held at the House of Commons last month, the Wrexham Lager Phoenix Group has backed off from its proposal to produce the lager at a microbrewery in its home town.

The Westminster meeting was brokered by Martyn Jones, MP for Clwyd South, in an attempt to break the 18-month impasse over the brand. C-T has switched production to Blackburn and Leeds, and plans to phase out production in three years.

Phoenix Group spokesman David Priestley said: "The consortium has examined in detail the options presented to us by C-T. They do not offer anything new of significance and we have concluded that it will not be possible to develop a viable business plan. Reluctantly, we are therefore unable to commit ourselves any further to the Wrexham Lager project."

Mr Jones, who last November called for a boycott of C-T brands in an Early Day Motion which accused the company of "stringing out" the negotiations, said: "The Wrexham Lager Phoenix Group made a brave attempt to rescue the brand and save Wrexham's long brewing tradition."

The MP has now offered to act as a "caretaker" until a new brewer can be found, calling on C-T to put the Wrexham brand in trust once production ceases. He said: "My fight to save Wrexham Lager goes on."

Related stories:​

Hope for Wrexham as talks end in truce (5 February 2002)

Future of Wrexham Lager to be discussed in House of Commons (18 January 2002)

C-T boss called to Commons over future of Wrexham Lager (06 December 2001)

C-T attacked over Wrexham closure (27 November 2001)