Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has announced plans to sell the Bedford-based Eagle Brewery to its long-term partner, Spanish brewer S.A. Damm.

Damm – best known in the UK as the brewer of Estrella Damm – will acquire its first brewery outside of mainland Europe through the deal and its second outside of Spain.

Demetrio Carceller Arce, executive president at Damm, said: “This deal will strengthen our position in the UK market and help drive our brand in the UK, a key market for the company’s international growth. The British public can currently enjoy our products in more than 10,000 bars and restaurants, a figure we expect to continue to grow in the coming years.”

As part of the agreement, the Eagle Brewery’s beers will continue to be sold as part of CMBC’s portfolio. All production staff at the Eagle Brewery will transfer over to Damm’s workforce.

CMBC and Damm have been engaged in a long-term distribution partnership, with much of the activity taking place at the Eagle Brewery, wher Estrella Damm has been packaged for the UK market since 2010.

The sale is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

CMBC’s logistics operation in Bedford will continue at the site for the next 12 months before moving to a new location.

Announced in 2020, CMBC is a 60:40 joint venture between Carlsberg UK and Marston’s.