Hampshire Brewery

[saint1977]

Real shame that it has gone bust, Black Penny is a superb Porter and Lionheart is a good beer. 11 jobs gone too.

[Johnny Shearer]

They've been in trouble over the last few months I'm not surprised - still a pity though.

[OLYMPIC]

Shame they have gone produced some good beer,but in this day and age they probably have no chance chance getting the beer into most pubs.Sad that maybe more local based pubs couldn't of done a deal to carry their beer,but then not famous like Morrisey and Fox who got straight into Tesco's.

[saint1977]

Shame they have gone produced some good beer,but in this day and age they probably have no chance chance getting the beer into most pubs.Sad that maybe more local based pubs couldn't of done a deal to carry their beer,but then not famous like Morrisey and Fox who got straight into Tesco's.

 

Makes me wonder, and this is no criticism of Marsden's, if Ringwood's much bigger distribution access to pubs since their takeover has done Hampshire's pub market in a bit. They cited rising costs (plausible) and the smoking ban as reasons for going kaput but I don't think the ban has had much impact and anyway, if people want to drink real ale and smoke they sit outside in the summer and there is the additional option of bottle conditioned ales that Hampshire sell/sold. I was in the South Western Arms after the Bristol City game for a beer festival and it was as heaving as I have ever seen it for a beer festival.

[Murdock]

Makes me wonder, and this is no criticism of Marsden's, if Ringwood's much bigger distribution access to pubs since their takeover has done Hampshire's pub market in a bit. They cited rising costs (plausible) and the smoking ban as reasons for going kaput but I don't think the ban has had much impact and anyway, if people want to drink real ale and smoke they sit outside in the summer and there is the additional option of bottle conditioned ales that Hampshire sell/sold. I was in the South Western Arms after the Bristol City game for a beer festival and it was as heaving as I have ever seen it for a beer festival.

 

 

Actually mate the smoking ban has had a big effect on trading, in some locations. Take a look around city and town centre's, How many Yates' are left? not many I know about 6 I think. The problem was compounded by money hungry local council's charging ridiculous amounts to erect 'smoking shelters', in essence another smoking tax. So the larger companies BRG, TCPC, and Green King amongst others closed them as they were pretty much borderline on profits anyway.

Its a shame about the brewery and I feel for the guys that have lost their jobs. Getting into a pub is hard enough, staying there is a challenge, getting a distribution deal....a godsend.

[saint1977]

Actually mate the smoking ban has had a big effect on trading, in some locations. Take a look around city and town centre's, How many Yates' are left? not many I know about 6 I think. The problem was compounded by money hungry local council's charging ridiculous amounts to erect 'smoking shelters', in essence another smoking tax. So the larger companies BRG, TCPC, and Green King amongst others closed them as they were pretty much borderline on profits anyway.

Its a shame about the brewery and I feel for the guys that have lost their jobs. Getting into a pub is hard enough, staying there is a challenge, getting a distribution deal....a godsend.

 

Thanks Murdoch, an interesting perspective. The distribution deal is a key aspect to highlight, clearly this is where Hampshire were struggling. That said, there are few pubs in Soton City Centre (only the Platform, JDWs, Duke of Wellington and the Alex, perhaps the Eagle) that would sell any ale, let alone a premium microbrew from Hampshire. Greene King and Fullers are not keen on guest ales although some of their pubs are permitted to have one or two and ditto Wadsworths' tied pubs.