Writer and blogger specialising in alcohol-free beer, craft beer, hospitality and getting outdoors.
This is an archive of all my posts about craft beer and real ale including my guide on where to buy fresh ale and beer to take away in Hampshire and beer tasting tips for beginners.
This in-depth guide to Southampton city centre’s best craft beer and real ale pubs, micropubs and bars includes recommended pub crawls with maps and directions, plus information on local breweries, getting around, where to stay and more. Comments, improvements, suggestions, corrections? Leave a comment below or contact me.
A few months back, I popped up to Leeds to check out the city’s oft-hyped craft beer scene.… Read more
As with starting any business venture, setting up a micropub takes a lot of effort and a lot of time.
There’s added complications too, like needing an alcohol licence and having to explain the micropub concept to potential investors and the community.
However, this hasn’t stopped hundreds of micropubs springing up in former shops, cafes and other quirky buildings across the UK in the last few years.… Read more
Looking for craft beer shops and specialist bottle shops in Southampton? Find out where to buy craft beer to drink at home in this guide.
With five breweries and a glut of excellent pubs and bars in the city, the Southampton craft beer scene is booming.
Yet, it’s still pretty difficult to get hold of decent craft beer in the city’s supermarkets and off licences – in many of them, all you’ll find is the usual uninspiring mix of beers from big brands and a few better-known independents.… Read more
If you’re considering opening a micropub, one of the first things you can do is get a personal alcohol licence. This is so you can be the micropub’s designated premises supervisor (DPS) once you’ve found a premises.
The DPS authorises the sale of alcohol in a licensed venue. They’re also the main contact for local authority and the police if there are any issues.… Read more
This is an ever-growing list of dog-friendly pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants in Southampton and the surrounding area. Includes a description of each pub that allows dogs, plus where to find them.
With hundreds of acres of green spaces, four city parks recently named among the top parks in the UK and the New Forest and South Downs National Parks in easy reach, Southampton is a great place for dog owners.… Read more
Find out about the beer and food we sampled on the second South Hants Hop Social meet up at the new Overdraft craft ale bar in Winchester.
It’s not often you can go somewhere decent for a few drinks and a bite to eat and come home with change from £30, especially in Winchester.
I did just that last night on our second South Hants Hop Social meet up in Winchester.… Read more
