A BREWERY has opened its own on-site tap room for customers to enjoy a range of home grown beers and food.

Hepworth and Company’s Tap Room opened its doors at its site in Pulborough last week. 

The Tap Room will be open Monday to Wednesday 10am to 5.30pm and Thursday to Saturday 10am to 8pm serving snacks, coffees and their range of award-winning beers including low alcohol beers. 

Hot food will be provided Thursday and Friday nights by a roster of “pop ups” with a focus on quality, and local ingredients, such as Rudgwick-based Italy on Wheels.

Bands are being lined up to play on Friday nights, with a focus on local performers. The Tap Room entertainment programme kicked off with popular covers combo the Davy Wavy Band with other names set to play over the coming weeks.

Hepworth’s is also launching a competition for students from the Chichester College Group challenging them to create a “next generation” Tap Room and Brewery Shop, to open within the next 12 months.

The Argus: Andy Hepworth, founder and Chairman of Hepworth & Company with Sally Challis-Manning MBE, Principal of Brinsbury CollegeAndy Hepworth, founder and Chairman of Hepworth & Company with Sally Challis-Manning MBE, Principal of Brinsbury College (Image: ShielPorter Communications)

Brewery founder and chairman Andy Hepworth said: “We’re delighted to have a Tap Room where we can serve a pint and a bite to our guests. 

“We expect it to evolve into a versatile space: a café bar serving coffees – or one of our alcohol-free beers – to morning visitors, through to a buzzing live music venue on Friday evenings.

“We’re also excited about the design plans, which will take the Tap Room and Shop up to the next level. 

“It’s great to be working with the Chichester College Group and helping to nurture creativity and design in young people at the start of their career. 

“We can’t wait to see their ideas and work with the winner on turning them into a reality.”

The focal point of the Tap Room is a wooden bar with beer taps fixed to the back bar, creating a contemporary feel. 

Guests can enjoy a pint at the bar, or sit at one of the tables, with the space accommodating up to 60 people. 

The Tap Room at the brewery in Stane Street was fitted out in just seven weeks by Hepworth’s recently-appointed Tap Room and Events Manager Matt Tobin, who previously managed The Star in Petworth, and ran online beer retailer Beer Hop which specialised in American craft beers.