Southsea Is Full Of Surprises

Thought you knew Southsea? Then it’s time to take a closer look. Viv Micklefield makes some remarkable discoveries hidden within the unlikeliest of buildings.

- Viv Micklefield

BREWING-UP A STORM

“In the past, everywhere that there were soldiers would have had its own brewery,” says David Eastwood owner of Southsea Brewing Company. Yet it’s still a surprise to cross over the dry moat from Southsea Common into Henry VIII’s Tudor castle and to find an old ammunition storage room converted by David into the new HQ for his craft microbrewery. “Luckily there was already water and electricity, although because it’s a protected building you can’t just drill into the walls or put in drainage without getting approval from Historic England,” he explains, adding: “But once I started on this project I was like a dog with a bone, I was going to make it happen.”

Having moved the business lock, stock and barrels from his garage last spring, David’s award-winning natural beers (no nasty chemical additives) have not stopped flowing.

Currently able to produce up to 500 pints at a time, customers have quickly sniffed-out his pale ales, porter and black IPS. Named with a nod to their coastal locality, Search Light, Low Tide, Lights Out and Casemate to name four, can be bought in bottles, cartons and mini-kegs from the onsite Tap Room and shop, open every weekend between 12pm and 4pm. “Southsea is so full of history,” says David. “When the Castle was suggested as a location for my brewery, I thought what a fantastic place!”

Look out for: Southsea Brewing Company beers at this year’s Portsmouth Beer Festival at the Guildhall on Friday and Saturday May 12-13, portsmouthbeerfestival.wordpress.com

TIME FOR CHANGE