Marston's
Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom · Est. 1834
Tally's Take
Why this matters
A heritage staple that merged its massive brewing operations into a mega joint-venture with Carlsberg.
The Museum
Timeline
- 2020Into Carlsberg Marston's
Carlsberg UK and Marston's merge their brewing operations in a £780 million joint venture — Carlsberg holding 60%, Marston's 40% — approved by the Competition and Markets Authority on 9 October 2020 and completed that month. Marston's kept its 1,400 pubs; the six breweries went into the venture. The Burton brewery that gave the company its name is now the minority partner in it.
The Beer Library
Beers
Pedigree
Year-RoundBurton Pale Ale
The last beer in the world fermented in a full Burton Union system — linked oak casks that were once standard across Burton upon Trent and now survive in one brewery.
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How it changed hands
1 recorded move- 1834Founded
- 2020Into Carlsberg Marston's
Carlsberg UK and Marston's merge their brewing operations in a £780 million joint venture — Carlsberg holding 60%, Marston's 40% — approved by the Competition and Markets Authority on 9 October 2020 and completed that month. Marston's kept its 1,400 pubs; the six breweries went into the venture. The Burton brewery that gave the company its name is now the minority partner in it.
Today the chain tops out at Carlsberg Group.
Show your working
Sources
- controlConfirmed
Marston's 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 Marston's
- Who owns Marston's?
- Marston's is owned by Carlsberg Group. It is held through Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company. Marston's is based in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.
- Is Marston's still independent?
- No. Marston's is owned by Carlsberg Group and is no longer independent.
- When was Marston's acquired?
- 2020. Carlsberg UK and Marston's merge their brewing operations in a £780 million joint venture — Carlsberg holding 60%, Marston's 40% — approved by the Competition and Markets Authority on 9 October 2020 and completed that month. Marston's kept its 1,400 pubs; the six breweries went into the venture. The Burton brewery that gave the company its name is now the minority partner in it.
- When was Marston's founded?
- Marston's was founded in 1834 in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.
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