Latest News About Old Speckled Hen Brand Sale

Here’s the latest on Old Speckled Hen brand sales.

Key development

• Greene King has agreed to sell the Old Speckled Hen brand (including related lines such as Golden Hen Old Craft Hen, Master Hen, and Low Alcohol Old Speckled Hen) to Damm UK, the British arm of Spanish brewer SA Damm. The move is part of Greene King’s shift away from producing beer for off-trade retail and toward focusing on pubs and brewing for on-premise consumption. The deal was reported on May 18–19, 2026, with wide coverage across UK outlets.[1][3][4][7][8]

Production and transition

• Brewing is expected to continue at Greene King’s Westgate Brewery in the short term to ensure supply and flavor stability, after which production will transfer to Damm UK’s new Bedford facility, leading to the eventual closure of Westgate. A handover period is anticipated to maintain continuity during the transition. Old Speckled Hen will remain available in major UK supermarkets and retailers during and after the transition.[3][4][9][1]

Strategic context

• The sale reflects Greene King’s broader strategy to prioritise pub operations and reduce off-trade beer production (retail/supermarket sales). The brand currently accounts for a substantial portion of Greene King’s beer sales in UK retail markets, reinforcing the significance of the off-trade business in their portfolio prior to the sale.[8][9][1][3]

Market and reception

• Coverage highlights that this is part of a trend of overseas buyers acquiring well-known British beer brands, with Estrella/Damm taking ownership in this case. Industry outlets summarize the deal as a notable shift in ownership of a long-running UK ale brand that has strong supermarket presence.[7][9][10][8]

If you’d like, I can pull direct quotes from the major articles or provide a quick side-by-side comparison of the brand’s distribution before and after the sale, with sources.