Brewery Tour - South of England

[Coneyhurst Blue]

Hi all,

As the title suggests I'm looking for recommendations for a brewery tour in the South of England - Dorset, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Wiltshire or East Sussex
We live in West Sussex so we have pretty much covered that over the years.
It is my brother in law's 60th birthday next month and he loves a real ale.
For his 50th a group of us spent enjoyable weekend in Southwold and toured 'Adnams' whilst also sampling Southwold's pubs.
I thought a new brewery with a weekend in a Pub/Inn (good food !) would be a nice weekend away for us with our better halves.
Any suggestions very welcome.
Cheers !

[Regbuser]

[kiethton]

Westerham Brewery?

Think they even do a "brewer for the morning" experience

[bodhi]

We went here a couple of years ago - https://www.chilternvalley.co.uk/

Focus of the tour is more on the winery but there was a beer tasting session as well, and it was all very good.

[super7]

Bit further north than where you were thinking but it's worth the trip.... (I am biased, I live in the village!!)

https://www.hooky.co.uk/visit-us/book-a-brewery-to...

One of the last gravity fed victorian brewery's and if you time it right, you'll see the placed powered by a steam engine.... Usual brewery tap, accommodation and shire horses!!

[Arkose]

Hogs Back is a fun one!

fairly free flowing samples! (I probably had about 4 pints worth maybe)

[oxford drinker]

super7 said:

Bit further north than where you were thinking but it's worth the trip.... (I am biased, I live in the village!!)

https://www.hooky.co.uk/visit-us/book-a-brewery-to...

One of the last gravity fed victorian brewery's and if you time it right, you'll see the placed powered by a steam engine.... Usual brewery tap, accommodation and shire horses!!

Second this. It's a good tour with tasting, there's a restaurant on site for lunch and the Sun Inn in the village (plus others) do B&B. Nice part of the world too.

[RizzoTheRat]

Arkose said:

Hogs Back is a fun one!

fairly free flowing samples! (I probably had about 4 pints worth maybe)

Agreed, I've done that one 2 or 3 times. if you're planning on getting pissed and staying over locally there's nothing in Tongham and you'd need a taxi to Aldershot, Farnborough or Farnham. Farnham has a decent beer bar (Borough Beer House) which the other two don't.

Badger in Blandford might be worth a look too.


Not a brewery but the Bombay Sapphire distillery near Whitchurch in Hampshire is a decent tour, and you can book a cocktail making masterclass before or after to get another few drinks in. Again nowhere really local to stay but you can get a bus to Whitchurch or possibly Basingstoke station. We went to the Watership Down pub for a large roast dinner while we sobered up.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Wednesday 24th September 16:05

[RichFN2]

Rebellion Brewery in Marlow is fantastic and there is winery just round the corner
http://www.rebellionbeer.co.uk/
https://harrowandhope.com/

Marlow is also a nice town for a stroll and enough pubs within walking distance from the high street.

Tring Brewery is another favourite of mine, and the town also has a lovely old high street with a few pubs that are worth popping into.
http://www.tringbrewery.co.uk/

[bompey]

How about the Shepherd Neame tour in Faversham, Kent. It's a quanit tow and theres alot of history with the company.
https://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/visitor-centre/bre...

[clubsport]

bompey said:

How about the Shepherd Neame tour in Faversham, Kent. It's a quanit tow and theres alot of history with the company.
https://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/visitor-centre/bre...

From what I remember of this tour it was interesting, we were taken there as part of our A level economics studies, making the most of the post tour bar before going back to school!

I assume this is still part of todays A level economics curriculum?

[ILikeCake]

RizzoTheRat said:

Arkose said:

Hogs Back is a fun one!

fairly free flowing samples! (I probably had about 4 pints worth maybe)

Agreed, I've done that one 2 or 3 times. if you're planning on getting pissed and staying over locally there's nothing in Tongham and you'd need a taxi to Aldershot, Farnborough or Farnham. Farnham has a decent beer bar (Borough Beer House) which the other two don't.

Badger in Blandford might be worth a look too.


Not a brewery but the Bombay Sapphire distillery near Whitchurch in Hampshire is a decent tour, and you can book a cocktail making masterclass before or after to get another few drinks in. Again nowhere really local to stay but you can get a bus to Whitchurch or possibly Basingstoke station. We went to the Watership Down pub for a large roast dinner while we sobered up.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Wednesday 24th September 16:05

Thirded!

Done Hogback a couple of times and it's great. As long as you don't mind a taxi there/back.

[FlyVintage]

clubsport said:

bompey said:

How about the Shepherd Neame tour in Faversham, Kent. It's a quanit tow and theres alot of history with the company.
https://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/visitor-centre/bre...

From what I remember of this tour it was interesting, we were taken there as part of our A level economics studies, making the most of the post tour bar before going back to school!

I assume this is still part of todays A level economics curriculum?

Agreed, the tour is very interesting . Even if the beer these days is somewhat commercial. However, a short train ride away is an opportunity to visit Floc Brewery. No tours that I know of, but the beer takes no prisoners! Be prepared to die on your sword for the team in the brewery tap room here!

https://flocbrewing.com/

Edited by FlyVintage on Wednesday 24th September 17:42

[MattyD803]

RichFN2 said:

Rebellion Brewery in Marlow is fantastic and there is winery just round the corner
http://www.rebellionbeer.co.uk/
https://harrowandhope.com/

Marlow is also a nice town for a stroll and enough pubs within walking distance from the high street.

Seconded - spend the night in Marlow. Lots of good places to eat and drink in town once your done with the brewery.

[loskie]

Not in your suggested areas but Bury St Edmunds is quite nice. There's a micro brewery/pub and the Greene King Brewery. Not sure if they do tours but it's a pretty town.

Or how about a trip to Belgium on the Eurostar? Not at all what you asked for I know!

[SydneyBridge]

Not a brewery but similar...
https://www.bombaysapphire.com/

Bit further north in Oxfordshire is Hawkstone

[andrewcliffe]

Wadworths in Devizes?

[miniman]

Harveys in Lewes - wonderful beer.

[robemcdonald]

Came here to suggest rebellion.

[mikef]

miniman said:

Harveys in Lewes - wonderful beer.

Tours are seasonal and look to have have finished for this year

https://www.harveys.org.uk/brewery-tours

But yes, wonderful beers