DURING the past seven centuries it has been used as a warehouse, a prison and a museum.

But now Southampton’s historic Wool House is ready for a fresh lease of life as a brewery and alehouse.

Run by the Dancing Man Brewery, the 14th century building will be officially reopened by city mayor Councillor Sue Blatchford tomorrow.

But the Daily Echo has been inside the Town Quay building to get a first glimpse of it before the grand opening.

The interior of the grade I listed structure has been modified to feature a new kitchen, bar counters and a state-of-the-art microbrewery that will eventually produce its own stouts, porters, milds and lager.

But it also maintains its connection with the past with features such as a Victorian crane used in the docks and old Italian wooden pallets being kept on as features.

A new ale, First Dance, has been brewed specially for the opening tomorrow, while its owners are in discussions with local artists about exhibiting some of their work in a gallery.