Decreasing numbers of free houses and difficulties in obtaining new licences meant a continual expansion of their tied estates was the only feasible way for breweries to generate new trade. By the end of the century more than 90 per cent of public houses in England were owned by breweries, and the only practical way brewers could now grow their tied estates was to turn on each other. Buy-outs and amalgamations became commonplace, and by the end of the 1980s there were only six large brewers left in the UK, collectively known as the Big Six; Allied, Bass, Courage, Grand Metropolitan, Scottish & Newcastle and Whitbread.
decreasing numbers of free houses and difficulties in obtaining new licences meant a continual expansion of their tied estates was the only feasible way for breweries to generate new trade by the end of the century more than 90 per cent of public houses in england were owned by breweries and the only practical way brewers could now grow their tied estates was to turn on each other buy-outs and amalgamations became commonplace and by the end of the 1980s there were only six large brewers left in the uk collectively known as the big six; allied bass courage grand metropolitan scottish & newcastle and whitbread