The West Midlands mayor says the closure of Banks’s Brewery could mark the start of a new chapter in Wolverhampton’s history.

Writing exclusively for the Express & Star, Richard Parker gave his backing to our Back Our Breweries campaign, saying it was vital that people supported industries that were not only vital to our heritage, but also to our economy.

Last month it was announced that Banks’s Park Brewery, in Chapel Ash, would close at the end of next year, 150 years since it opened in 1875.

Parker said the closure would be a blow to the city and, in particular, to the people who worked there. But it said it would work closely with the Danish-owned brewing giant to ensure the closure was managed smoothly and workers were looked after.

He said he was also in talks with the company about the future of the site, insisting he would do everything he could to ensure the building did not go to waste or become an eyesore.

“I am committed to working closely with the brewery, council and local education providers to ensure we help workers transition into new jobs and careers,” Parker said.

“That approach will focus on support and ‘upskilling’, ensuring those who want to continue working are part of the future of the Black Country. Anyone who wants it will have access to training and support.”

Parker said he had met with Carlsberg-Marston executives and asked them to work with him to find a suitable buyer for the site, rather than simply selling it to the highest bidder who may remain on the land for decades.

“The redevelopment of the site can create new jobs and boost the local economy, transforming it into a place that meets the needs of the community for years to come,” he said.

“We must ensure that the closure of Banks’s Brewery is not the end of a story but the beginning of a new chapter for Wolverhampton.”

Banks site will be crucial to new chapter in Wolverhampton’s history, says mayor

By Richard Parker, Mayor Elect of the West Midlands

Sadly and frustratingly, the iconic Banks’s Brewery in Wolverhampton has announced it will close its doors, ending a legacy that has lasted more than a century and a half.

This is not just the closure of a business, but the loss of an iconic and much-loved part of our community. It is a sad time, especially for workers and their families, whose livelihoods are directly affected. The people who have worked at Banks, often for decades, are the heart of this business and their contributions to the region and community are immeasurable.

I met with the brewery owners, along with Steve Simkins, Leader of Wolverhampton Council, to discuss what this means for the city and, more importantly, what we can do to ensure a positive future. Steve and I have made it clear that we will work together tirelessly to do whatever it takes. While the site will remain active and jobs protected for another year, it is vital that we now start planning to support those who will be affected.

I have committed to working closely with the brewery, council and local education providers to ensure we help workers transition into new jobs and careers. That approach will focus on support and “upskilling”, ensuring those who want to continue working are part of the future of the Black Country. Anyone who wants it will have access to training and support. We cannot afford to let anyone go unnoticed.

However, there is a broader challenge here as well. The site of Banks’s Brewery is of great historical and cultural importance. It is a stunning example of late Victorian industrial design, something to be treasured and preserved. If we do not act, there is a real danger that this will become another empty space that deteriorates. And, more worryingly, it could lead to the kind of anti-social behavior that has blighted other former industrial sites in the Black Country. We have seen this happen before, in places like the former GKN factory in Heath Town and other areas where, once the industry is gone, no new purpose is found for the land. We must learn from those mistakes and not let Banks’ site go down the same path. Empty and abandoned buildings not only symbolize job loss: they become scars on the community, fostering feelings of abandonment and contributing to increased crime and disorder. We feel this very intensely in some of the main streets of our region. I have asked the owners of the site to not just sell it to the highest bidder, who may remain on the land for decades, but to work with us to find someone who has the pride and ambition for the site that we have.

It is crucial that we preserve the heritage elements of the site, honoring its history while transforming it into a place that meets the needs of today and tomorrow.

But we cannot remain passive in this process. Politicians, businesses and communities must step up and take control of our future. When decisions like this, affecting our region, are made elsewhere and out of our hands, we must be proactive in finding solutions that work for us. That means engaging fully with those affected and ensuring their voices are heard in the redevelopment process. I will ensure that the future of this site is a source of hope, not a symbol of abandonment.

Positive discussions are already taking place about how we can turn this challenge into an opportunity. By focusing on how we grow, we can ensure that those affected by the closure of Banks’s Brewery are not only left behind, but are positioned to thrive in new careers. Additionally, redevelopment of the site can create new jobs and boost the local economy, transforming it into a place that meets the needs of the community for years to come.

This is a difficult time for Wolverhampton, but it is also an opportunity for us to show what we can do when we work together and take control of our future.

We must seize this opportunity, not only to support those who are losing their jobs, but also to ensure a better future for the entire community.

It’s also why I support Express & Star’s campaign to support our breweries. These local breweries are part of our historical and cultural fabric, and are also an important part of our local economy. If we are going to support the Black Country, then we should support those who are also bringing jobs, investment and real beer to our region.

We have faced challenges before in the Black Country and have overcome them with determination and resilience. We must now ensure that the closure of Banks’s Brewery is not the end of a story but the beginning of a new chapter for Wolverhampton.