Gateshead brewery move blasted

Oct 28 2009 by The Journal

DOZENS of MPs from across the country have blasted controversial plans to move production of Newcastle Brown Ale away from Tyneside.

The famous ale may be an iconic symbol of the region, but that has not stopped Scottish and Newcastle (S&N) wanting to close its brewery in Dunston, Gateshead, next year with the loss of 63 jobs.

Production will be switched to its John Smith’s plant in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, under proposals unveiled by the company owned by Dutch brewing giant Heineken.

Newcastle Brown Ale has been brewed in Dunston for the past four years after the former Tyne brewery in Newcastle shut, with the company insisting at the time that production would stay in the North East.

Now 25 MPs from across the country have signed a Commons motion tabled by Tyne Bridge’s David Clelland expressing anger at the move.

They include Scottish Nationalists along with Liberal Democrats and Labour MPs from the Midlands, Liverpool, the South and Wales.

The motion expresses grave concerns about the closure of the Gateshead brewery and “the resultant loss of credibility of the brand name to be detrimental to the future sales”.

Mr Clelland, Labour MP for Tyne Bridge, said S&N should reconsider with the motion showing the nationwide strength of feeling about Newcastle Brown Ale.