UK: Jobs blow as brewery closes in Reading

Brewer Scottish & Newcastle today announced plans to close its Reading brewery with the potential loss of 362 jobs.

The Foster’s and Kronenbourg 1664 maker, which is being bought by European rivals Heineken and Carlsberg for £7.8bn (€0.5bn), said the site would close by early 2010.

S&N said closure of the former Courage brewery – open since 1979 – was the “most viable option going forward”.