Last orders as three beers disappear from pubs

"It's going to be quite weird not being able to hear someone come in and say: 'Can I have a pint of Mild?'"

Terry Cole, landlord of the The Royal Oak said he had taken delivery of the last barrels of Banks's Mild, Banks's Sunbeam and Marston's Old Empire - and he does not expect the barrels to last long.

It comes after Carlsberg Marston's announced that it would stop producing some of its lines, including heritage brands.

"I'm really upset, it's something that I've always known," said Mr Cole.

"Grandparents, fathers, older friends have always drunk the Mild.

"The Sunbeam, I was introduced to it when I came into the pub, had never drunk it before. It's a small niche, but it has a big impact."

The cuts were announced by Carlsberg Marston's in November.

The affected beers are Banks's Mild, Banks's Sunbeam, Bombardier (keg), Eagle IPA, Jennings Cumberland Ale, Mansfield Dark Smooth (keg), Mansfield Original Bitter (keg), Marston's Old Empire, Marston's 61 Deep, Ringwood Boondoggle and Ringwood Old Thumper.

The company said it had taken the decision following a review of its products and following a decline in demand.

It added that some would continue to be available in other forms after being taken out of production in cask or keg format.

Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company (CMBC) also announced earlier in 2024 that nearby Banks's Brewery would close in autumn 2025 as part of a restructuring process, putting 97 jobs at risk.

Mr Cole said the Sunbeam had been served at the pub for about 15 years.

He said he had six barrels in total of the three beers, and estimated that Wolves' home game against Arsenal on Saturday would "wipe us out completely".

The pub regularly attracts between 300 and 400 people in the three hours before a home match.

"The Sunbeam has been very popular for a very long time, it's a nice light ale," he said.

"It's iconic, it's something that's gone up against a lot of bigger ales and succeeded.

"The Mild, well, everyone knows about the Mild... People call it the Black Country milk, people have grown up on it."

He added that the pub had some ideas of what would replace the three products, but no official plans just yet.

"The future can be bright if we make it, we can't live on the past, but it's unfortunate that we're going to lose our past," he said.

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