Our History and Expertise

On January 8 2007, The Union Pub Company (UPC) became Marston's Pub Company. UPC had formed a major part of the Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries PLC, and now forms a major part of Marston's PLC.

But what sets us apart from most other pub operators is our heritage.

In 1834 Britain was a global superpower. The 1830 Beer Act was revolutionising the way that ale was sold, and the Tolpuddle martyrs were laying the seeds of the trade union movement in bloody scenes of rural violence. The population of Britain was at an all-time high - at around 24 million.

Meanwhile in the industrial heartlands of England, John Marston was building his 'modern' brewery - a move that was to help the town of Burton-Upon-Trent become the brewing capital of the world. Meanwhile, in 1875 in Wolverhampton, Banks and Company had built Park Brewery. Fifteen years later three local companies merged to form The Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries (W&DB). Over the next 100 years both Marston's and W&DB grew and developed their businesses to include pub estates which sold their quality beers.

In the early nineties W&DB acquired Hartlepool brewer and pub operator Camerons and Marston's bought pub chain Pitcher and Piano. But the 1990 Parliamentary Beer Orders meant that the brewing and pub industry was changing, so in 1999 W&DB bought Marston's and later that year acquired the Mansfield Brewery Company, swelling the pub estate to nearly 2000.

Throught the nineties W&DB was in a perfect place to capitalise on the changing needs of the pub customer, offering a wide selection of pubs across an increasing geography serving each community as its local but with a constant goal to deliver great quality and value. The pub and brewing industry continued to consolidate, with W&DB acquiring Wizard Inns in 2004, Burtonwood Pub Estate and Cumbrian based brewer and pub operator Jennings Brothers in 2005. Since becoming Marston's PLC, Eldridge Pope (Dorset) and the Ringwood brewery in Hampshire have become part of the business. In 2007 Marston's disposed of around 300 pubs, improving the average quality of the leased and tenanted estate.

Today the company is the UK's largest producer of cask ale with four operating breweries in Burton, Wolverhampton, Ringwood and Cockermouth and is one of the UK's leading pub companies with over 1700 tenanted and leased pubs forming the Marston's Pub Company estate. Its flagship ale is Marston's Pedigree which is widely recognised as one of the best ales in the world.

W&DB had a long and distinguished history which delivered today's business a quality and a heritage to be proud of. Building on this, Marston's PLC is in a perfect position to bring out the best in its people for the next generation of pub goers and drinkers, and Marston's Pub Company is proud to be an important part of that process.

Our Expertise

We understand pubs. We know what you want and need as an independent business person. We recognise that you must:

• Make money;
• Have security in your pub;
• Be able to run your business the way you want;
• Have an open business relationship with us;
• Be competitive in your local area.

We offer the following:

• The widest range of pub opportunities.
• The most competitive financial deal.
• The most committed pub company in the UK.
• A very wide range of pubs in different areas and styles.
• We let you run your pub with the smallest amount of interference from us but as much help as you need.
• We passionately believe in the value of our beer brands and how our breweries add value to you.
• We make your business as competitive and profitable as you can deliver.
• We will always deal with you fairly and honestly

Now & Ahead

We have over 1700 pubs in 65 counties across England and Wales, from busy town and city pubs to village pubs at the heart of their communities.

Now in the 21st century, Marston's Pub Company continues to carry forward the tradition and pedigree of the companies from which it was founded - building on and improving our pubs for everyone; our communities, our staff, our clients, and our customers.

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