Dark Star Brewery to shut its Partridge Green site

Dark Star, which began life in the cellar of a Brighton pub before moving to Partridge Green, was taken over by Fullers in 2018 then sold to its current owners – Japanese drinks firm Asahi – in 2019.

A spokesperson for Asahi said: “We have put forward a proposal for Dark Star to cease trading at its current site, in Partridge Green West Sussex, as of December 31 2022, and for operations for the brand to move to the Meantime Brewery in Greenwich.

"This is not a step we have taken lightly, however there are significant challenges in the current economic and operating environment that make this the right course of action for the business and the brand. The Dark Star site operates significantly below capacity which is unfortunately not sustainable.

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“We believe strongly in Dark Star and remain committed to building for its future success. The Dark Star beers will remain exactly as they are today - brewed to the same recipe and taste expected by its loyal fans, whilst retaining its distinct visual brand identity.

"Our absolute priority right now is to support all colleagues who may be impacted by this proposal, and we are currently in the process of consultation with them.

"It would therefore be inappropriate to provide any further detail at this time, but we will share more on our plans for the brand and its future brewing arrangements in due course.