Pub opens its own micro brewery (From Daily Echo)

The Platform Tavern returns to its brewing roots

12:30pm Thursday 26th January 2012 in News By Luke Tugby, Reporter

Bosses of a Southampton pub have taken a step back in time, in a bid to secure its future.

Before the Platform Tavern, in Town Quay, became a pub in 1886, people who lived in the building would brew their own beer and sell it to locals.

And now, more than 125 years later, the watering hole has returned to its roots, by opening its own micro brewery.

The onsite brewery, which is the only one of its kind in Southampton, celebrated the opening yesterday when members of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) visit from across Hampshire to sample the new beers.

The brain child of bar manager, Aidan Lavin, the ‘Dancing Man Brewery’ offers four home made ales, ranging in strength from 3.9 per cent to five per cent.

The idea came at a cost of £9,000 to landlord, Stewart Cross, who converted the pub’s former kitchen into the new brewery, which can produce 72 gallons of beer per week.

But early signs already seem to suggest it is money well spent.

Stewart said: “We’ve put three of the beers on the bar on a trial basis and they have been flying out.

“We had a crowd in here over Christmas and we ran out of beer within three hours. It was phenomenal.”

The four ales, named Big Casino IPA, Fiddlers Jig, Troubadour and Pilgrim’s Pale Ale, are all based on Aidan’s own recipes.

He added: “You would have thought I was drinking liquid gold if you had seen my face after the first taste!” he said.

“We are thrilled with the reaction so far.”

Figures released by CAMRA earlier this week revealed that 16 pubs are closing across the UK every week.

As reported in the Daily Echo those include the Waggon and Horses in Lymington which closed this week.

Landlord Stewart agreed that the micro brewery could prove the difference to the Platform’s survival.

“It’s tough at the moment to make any money,” he added.

“You have to do something these days to get your customers in. We’ve had some tough times, but we’ve bounced back and with the micro brewery the only way is up now for us.”