Brewing of Young's Waggle Dance is on the move

The group is selling its Ram Brewery in Wandsworth, south London, and merge its brewing operations with Charles Wells.

The move will lead to at least 90 job losses, and leaves Fullers and US giant Budweiser as the last remaining large-scale brewers in the capital.

Under the takeover deal, Young's is moving its brewing operations to Wells' more modern brewery in Bedfordshire.

Brewing began on the Ram site in Wandsworth in 1581, making it the oldest site in the UK where beer has been continuously produced.

Young's bought the site when it was founded in 1831, but had been considering its future of the site for the past two-and-a-half years.

'Reluctant' decision

"The decision to sell the Ram Brewery site in our 175th year was taken with some reluctance, for mainly nostalgic reasons, but as I promised when we first announced that we were launching the brewing review in 2003, my head has ruled my heart," Chairman John Young said.

Real Ale group Camra said it was "greatly disappointed" at the closure of the London site.

"It is a tremendous loss for London drinkers and a great shame that there is only one substantial real ale brewer left in the nation's capital in the form of Fuller's," Camra chief executive Mike Benner said

The merger deal will create a new company, Wells & Young's Brewing Company Limited, which will begin operations in October - owned 60% by Wells and the rest by Young's.

All of Young's beers - which include the Waggle Dance and Winter Warmer names - will be brewed at the Bedford site, alongside Charles Wells brands such as Bombardier bitter and John Bull.