More than 100 staff work at the Kimberley site

Hardys and Hansons will be taken over by Suffolk-based brewer Greene King in a �270m deal.

Hardys employs 140 people at Kimberley. So far Greene King has not said whether the site will stay open.

Senior management at Hardys and Hansons said they would try to impress upon the new owners the value of the existing staff and products.

It's a very sad day Andrew Ludlow, Nottingham Campaign for Real Ale

Managing Director of Hardys and Hansons Jonathan Webster said: "Of our 2,000 employees, 1,800 are at the pub end and being part of a larger pub group will create opportunities for them.

"I think the question marks are at the brewing and the head office end - Greene King haven't declared what they intend to do.

"Generally their approach is to run a business for a period of time before making decisions."

Shareholder and member of the Nottingham Campaign for Real Ale Andrew Ludlow had opposed the move.

He said: "It's a very sad day. The overall result is that the company will become a part of Greene King.

"What we must now look towards is trying to persuade Greene King that the beers are maintained and the brewing is kept in Nottingham."