More than 150 years of brewing history in Jersey will come to a close this autumn – with Liberation Brewery announcing plans to shut its St Helier site and move production to the UK amid “dramatically” rising costs.

The company confirmed that all brewing operations will transfer from Tregear House to Somerset in October 2025.

The move marks the end of a tradition that began in 1871, when J S Palmer established the Ann Street Brewery with the aim of producing “prime ales and porter of superior quality” to rival the best of Britain.

Since then, the brewery has survived two World Wars, German occupation, economic downturns and cultural change. Its beers – first Mary Ann, known as “the beer that made Jersey famous”, later known as Liberation Ale – became synonymous with the island and with visitors from overseas.

But Liberation Group said that rising costs meant it was no longer viable to keep the brewery in Jersey.

The costs of brewing beer, operating the brewery and other well documented business expenses have dramatically risen over the last few years

LIBERATION GROUP STATEMENT

In a statement, the company said: “To ensure that Liberation award-winning beers can continue to be brewed in a sustainable way, as of October 2025, Butcombe Group will be relocating all brewing operations from Jersey to Somerset in the UK. Pat Dean, Head Brewer Liberation Brewing Co, will also transfer and continue to oversee the production of Liberation Ales, imparting his many years of expertise and heritage, ensuring our range of award-winning Liberation beers can be continued to be brewed to the same high-quality methods and ingredients.”

The group added: “The costs of brewing beer, operating the brewery and other well documented business expenses have dramatically risen over the last few years. To make sure we can continue to run a viable brewing business, including brewing a range of Liberation beers, we have evaluated the current effectiveness of the brewery in Jersey and made this difficult decision to shut the brewery at Tregear House in October.”

As part of the move, some of the small batch brewing equipment will be transferred across to Somerset, allowing the team to continue developing experimental and seasonal ales.

Head Brewer Pat Dean said: “I’m really excited about the move to Somerset and the opportunity to help preserve the legacy of Liberation Brewery. This move allows us to continue brewing some of the best ales in the world and to further develop our small batch cask program.”

Liberation Group was formed in 2008 after a management buyout of the pub and hospitality business run by Sandpiper.

In 2015, it acquired the UK’s Butcombe Brewery, taking its scale to more than 750 staff and 94 pubs, bars and eateries in the Channel Islands and the UK at the time.

The deal also meant that Butcombe beers from their brewery outside of Wrighton near Bristol, were put on sale locally, while the Liberation Ale range was introduced to a new market in the UK.

Express has asked how many staff will be impacted.

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Who was ‘Mary Ann’?

For nearly a century, the beer that defined Jersey was Mary Ann. Brewed by Ann Street Brewery from the late 19th century, it was a fixture of island life and a favourite with holidaymakers.

But the origins of its name remain a mystery. Archivist Harry Le Feuvre explored theories ranging from it being named after a director’s wife or daughter to a real woman, Mary Ann Beer, who lived around Ann Street in the early 20th century.

While no definitive evidence has ever been found, one of her stepsons later wrote to the Evening Post saying: “It is nice to know that the beer that made Jersey famous also keeps alive my stepmother’s name, a fitting memory for a wonderful lady.”

Read the full story…

FOCUS: Who was ‘Mary Ann’?

Since 2009, Liberation Group’s flagship drink has been Liberation Ale, but, for almost a century before, it was Mary Ann, produced by Ann Street Brewery, that was the island’s top tipple.…