A renowned real ale brewery is aiming to quadruple production after being taken over by new owners.

Anna and Garry Doel bought Bexhill-based White’s following the retirement of David and Lesley White, who founded the brewery in 1995.

They have already extended the site at Pebsham Farm Industrial Estate so it can produce 400 casks a month, up from 250.

Mrs Doel said new orders from wholesalers were still coming in and within six months production should have quadrupled.

Jurgen Muller has been kept on as head brewer and they have already launched a new beer, called Patriot.

The brewery has also bought the brand name and recipes of Leeds-based brewer Franklins, which closed about ten years ago, and intends to target new markets in the Yorkshire and surrounding areas.

At the moment White’s is being run by Mrs Doel’s sister Vikki Boundy and her husband Paul, who has taken over as manager after 12 years in the Armywith the Coldstream Guards.

Mr Boundy said: “I have had a lot of drinking experience but I have not done a lot of brewing. Fortunately, Jurgan is here to teach me.”

South African-born Mr Doel currently works in IT but used to work in a brewery while at university in Cape Town.

He is also a business specialist and helped many companies restructure successfully in his native country.

Mrs Doel said: “We thought it was a good business opportunity because real ale seems to be on the up. Sales rose about 16% last year.”

The health of the microbrewing sector was in further evidence with the takeover of Horsham-based WJ King.

Ian Burgess and Nigel Lambe bought the business from Bill King, who is retiring.

Mr Burgess said: “We will retain all of the best aspects of the business Bill King created including all of our fantastic staff and we will look for ways to increase the range of award winning beers that we offer our customers and very loyal drinkers.”