UNITE demanded an “urgent meeting” with beer barons Greene King yesterday after it emerged that the company is being taken over by a property developer.

The union has demanded the company assure workers that their jobs will be secured after it was announced the brewery has been sold to CK Asset Holdings for £2.7 billion.

The Suffolk-based company, which was founded in 1799, currently owns around 2,700 pubs across the country.

Unite regional officer Mark Jaina said: “This is a major takeover of a well-known British company with a long history in brewing and pub ownership built up over 220 years. It could have major ramifications for this sector, given the magnitude of the takeover.

“Our first priority is to seek reassurances for our members on future job security, and pay and employment conditions.

“However, we need to study this takeover in much greater detail before commenting further.”