In 1995, Scottish and Newcastle bought Courage and became the United Kingdom's leading brewer. The acquisition showed that even after the Beer Orders, brewing was still moving towards larger national and multinational structures. Famous regional and London names were absorbed into bigger portfolios.

The deal strengthens the historical background for poems and essays about placelessness, brand nostalgia, and the loss of local brewing memory. It also marks the world CAMRA and pub writers were resisting: fewer owners, fewer distinctive ties, and larger corporate identities.