Jennings Brewery
Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom · Est. 1828
Tally's Take
Why this matters
A legendary Lake District brewery that survived 200 years of floods, only to be permanently closed by CMBC for efficiency.
The Museum
Timeline
- 1828Founded
Jennings Brewery established in Lorton, Cumbria by John Jennings.
- 1874Expansion
The brewery relocated its primary operations from Lorton to the larger Castle Brewery site in Cockermouth to accommodate growing demand.
- 2005Acquired
Acquired by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries, later renamed Marston's PLC.
- 2022Closed
Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company announced the permanent closure of the historic Cockermouth brewery site.
The People
Behind the beer
Established the brewery at Cockermouth in Cumbria in 1828; it closed under Marston's in 2022.
The Beer Library
Beers
Sneck Lifter
Year-RoundStrong Ale
Cumbrian dialect for the money you needed to lift the latch on a pub door. Brewed in Cockermouth with water from the brewery's own well since 1828.
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How it changed hands
1 recorded move- 1828Founded
- 2005Acquired
Acquired by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries, later renamed Marston's PLC.
Today the chain tops out at Carlsberg Group.
Show your working
Sources
- controlConfirmed
Jennings Brewery is controlled by Foundation / nonprofit.
Carlsberg Group Annual Report 2025 · Carlsberg Group · 2026-02
PrimaryHigh reliabilityAccessed 2026-08-05Reviewed 2026-08-05
Only the claims above are sourced. Everything else on this page is the archive's own research and has not yet been tied to a document — which is worth knowing rather than hiding.
Straight answers
Common questions about Jennings Brewery
- Who owns Jennings Brewery?
- Jennings Brewery is owned by Carlsberg Group. It is held through Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company. Jennings Brewery is based in Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom.
- Is Jennings Brewery still independent?
- No. Jennings Brewery is owned by Carlsberg Group and is no longer independent.
- When was Jennings Brewery acquired?
- 2005. Acquired by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries, later renamed Marston's PLC.
- Is Jennings Brewery still open?
- No. Jennings Brewery has closed. A legendary Lake District brewery that survived 200 years of floods, only to be permanently closed by CMBC for 'efficiency'.
- When was Jennings Brewery founded?
- Jennings Brewery was founded in 1828 in Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom.
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