Mansfield Brewery was constructed in 1855 on land that was once a part of the North Notts Coalfield in the market town of Mansfield, England. The main beer brewed here was Mansfield Bitter, along with other popular brands including Riding Bitter, Old Bailey, and Marksman Lager. The brewery also boasted a large array of seasonal beers, including the ‘Deakins' range. The brewery was one of the area's largest employers.
In 1999, the brewery was taken over by Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries, now known under the popular name of Marstons,[1] who changed beer production at Mansfield. Production of Mansfield Bitter was moved to Wolverhampton. There the water the beer was produced with tasted quite different from the taste Mansfield drinkers were used to, so the demand for Mansfield bitter fell drastically in the local area. The Mansfield beers are now brewed by the Marstons Beer Company.
This resulted in a winding down of production at Mansfield brewery, and the brewery was closed down in early 2002. The buildings subsequently fell to ruin, and after many acts of vandalism and arson, the site was eventually demolished in late 2008. The final part of the demolition involved using a controlled explosion to bring down the brewery's iconic brick chimeny, which could be seen across the Mansfield skyline, and was what some Mansfield residents felt, a part of the town's Cultural heritage.
The land on which the brewery once stood is now for sale, but so far no buyers have been found.
In 2008, Mansfield District Council released blueprints, showing plans to develop the area, including offices, leisure facilities and residential developments.[2]