Greene King to invest £40m in new brewery

Greene King has announced that it will invest £40m in developing a new state-of-the-art brewery in Bury St Edmunds. 

The investment into a new custom-built facility builds on the company’s 200-year history of brewing in Bury St Edmunds since its founding in 1799. 

The proposed new brewery forms a key part of the company’s transformation programme, as it’s directly in line with the strategic driver of optimising the company’s assets and delivering on its strategy to be a modern hospitality business. 

Matt Starbuck, managing director Brewing and Brand at Greene King, said: “We have been brewing in Bury St Edmunds for over 200 years. We are passionate about our craft and the development of this state-of-the-art facility will allow us to maintain brewing at the core of our business going forwards. We are excited by the opportunity that this affords and the chance to invest in innovation and the development of our world-class beer portfolio.”

The new facility will be located next to its new distribution centre and will improve the sustainability of the company’s brewing operations. Water usage in the brewing process will be reduced by more than 50% per pint, alongside significant improvements in energy efficiency. It will also drive the company’s progression towards becoming net zero by 2040 as well as reducing its carbon emissions of 50% by 2030. 

Over the last two years, Greene King has invested in a new multi-million pound distribution centre, adjacent to the proposed site for the new brewery in Bury St Edmunds, as well as over £9m in its Belhaven Brewery in Dunbar. 

Nick Mackenzie, CEO at Greene King, said: “Brewing in Bury St Edmunds is a core part of Greene King’s DNA. This investment represents a further and significant ongoing commitment to our brewing operations in a town which has such a rich and storied connection with our business and with brewing. 

“As we seek to make our operations more sustainable, our new brewery will future proof our ability to brew our much-loved brands, as we create a thriving modern hospitality business.”

Greene King’s brewing operation will continue in its current form at its Westgate Brewery throughout the construction of the new site, which is set to be completed in 2027. 

Jo Churchill, MP for Bury St Edmunds, said: “Greene King is at the heart of our Bury St Edmunds community, and has been for more than two centuries. Building a modern, more sustainable brewery that looks to the future will bring many benefits. 

“It is brilliant to see the company commit to the future of its operations in the town and surrounding areas, supporting hundreds of jobs and maintaining the town’s heritage as a pillar of British brewing.”