A NEW Winchester business has been launched off the back of two trucks after they were developed into fold-out bars.

Pubs on Wheels was started by David Watt and Fleur Brand after they renovated two ex-military DAF lorries into fully functioning mobile pubs.

The bars can be rented across Hampshire and Oxfordshire for weddings, birthdays, festivals and county shows.

The company, based in Woodmancott, near Winchester, was started when Mr Watt and Ms Brand were approached by Alexander Langlands ‘Langy’ Pearce – chief executive officer of the Epicurean Collection, which owns 14 pubs across the south of England, including The Kings Head in Hursley.

Mr Watt said: “The original concept behind Pubs on Wheels (PoW) was to take the philosophy of the pubs – i.e. great products, served by great people in a lovely atmosphere – into the communities where the pubs were, a sort of extension of the brand.

“However, I saw a huge amount of potential in the event market, whether it be your sister’s wedding, or as a bar at a music festival or sporting event, and pretty much everything in between. Apart from being beautifully constructed the technical part of the truck is also very clever.”

He said each truck has ten fridges with the capacity to pour more than 500 chilled beers every hour. He worked closely with Oxford Specialist Coachbuilders to build the trucks, which took nearly five months to complete.

“We also have our own generator which can supply up to three PoWs at one time for up to 35 hours,” he added.

“So we literally can go anywhere, because they are all 4x4 obviously, and be totally self-sufficient when we get there.

“We even have our own satellite providing superfast broadband for all of our customers, which not only allows them to stay in touch, but also download our app, which gives them the ability to pay with their smart phone and get a discount at the same time.”