Rare union set finds new home in the West Midlands

Thanks to the coverage of the plight of the Glasgow union set published by the drinks business in December, a new home has been found for the rare brewing equipment.

The six barrel fermentation system, one of only three operational union sets in existence, was originally gifted by the Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (now Carlsberg Britvic) to Epochal Barrel Fermented Ales in Glasgow in 2024. However, shortly afterwards, Epochal folded and the historic union became the property of its landlords – Cairn Property Solutions.

Cairn sought to sell the union, as they were eager to clear the unit and move in a new tenant. However, a buyer was not forthcoming and Cairn’s spokesperson told the drinks business in December 2025 that they would have to sell the equipment for scrap early in the new year.

Availability garnered interest

The publication of this news brought a new wave of potential buyers out of the woodwork. An American brewery looked set to make the purchase, but then a brand new brewery in the UK – Springbanks Brewery of Wolverhampton – also stepped in. Since the timescales involved in moving the equipment to the West Midlands were much shorter than moving it to the Midwest, Cairn opted to accept Springbanks’ offer.

Springbanks is such a new business that their core brewery kit hasn’t even been delivered yet. The brewery came into being after the news of the impending closure of Banks’s Brewery in Wolverhampton broke early in 2025. Director Peter Atwal decided that he wanted to preserve his hometown’s proud brewing tradition by starting a brewery of his own and also building a collection of local breweriana and oral histories for display in the Lincoln Street building.

Atwal does not come from a brewing background, so when the new 10BBL brewery is installed on site from February 2026, it will be managed by Jonathan Dale, who currently also brews at 52 Degrees Brewing Co in Walsall. Dale will have his work cut out, as he will have to develop a brand new core beer range for the brewery to launch – as well as getting to grips with caring for and using the union set.

In it for the long haul

While it is disappointing that the union was not able to find a home with an established brewery, Atwal assured the drinks business that the Springbanks team are in it for the long haul.

“This is a business I’m envisaging leaving to my children,” he said. “We are getting the best expertise on board, including a former Banks’s brewer of 40 years experience who is acting as a consultant for us. We’re here for the long term so we want to get it right. We’re all about the quality of the beer and we’ve got a bit of time to work on that. Nothing will go out of these doors unless we’re really proud of it.”

Springbanks Brewery is working with Empire Process Engineers Ltd, the company who worked with Marston’s for more than 25 years and undertook the original modification and transportation of the two union sets in 2024. Logistics are being organised and it is hoped that the Springbanks Union will begin its final journey to its forever home in the Midlands in February.

Once the brewery is fully operational, the Springbanks team will be keen to invite other breweries to come and make use of the union for collaborations and even contract brews.

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