Southsea Brewing is an independent family-run brewery in Portsmouth, Hampshire. Founded in 2016 inside Southsea Castle, the brewery began on a small 300-litre system before moving to a larger purpose-built brewery on Milton Road in 2023. Its beers are produced unfined, unfiltered and unpasteurised, while its nearby Brewers Tap serves Southsea beers alongside a wide range of guest craft and cask beer.
Brewery story
Southsea Brewing launched in 2016 from an unusual home inside the historic Southsea Castle, a coastal fort built by Henry VIII in 1544.
The original brewery occupied a former ammunition storage room within the castle walls. A compact 300-litre brewing system was installed alongside a small visitor space where customers could discover and buy the brewery's beers.
Southsea's beers were produced on a deliberately small scale, with an emphasis on character and freshness. The brewery's beers are unfined, unfiltered and unpasteurised, preserving the natural qualities of the finished beer.
As demand increased, the original castle brewery became increasingly restrictive. The 300-litre system was pushed to its limits, prompting the search for a larger site that could provide more brewing capacity and room to develop new styles.
In 2023 Southsea Brewing found a new production home on Milton Road in Portsmouth, around two miles from the castle. The site was fitted with a new brewhouse and fermenters, more than doubling the capacity of the original setup.
The move allowed Southsea Brewing to refine established beers while increasing production and giving the team greater flexibility to experiment with new releases.
Southsea Brewing is run as a family venture by husband-and-wife team Dave and Lorna. Dave leads the brewing operation as Head Brewer, while Lorna focuses on hospitality, with their family closely involved in the business.
Alongside the brewery, Southsea operates The Brewers Tap on Eastney Road. The micropub has 14 taps, including four cask lines, and combines Southsea's own beers with carefully selected guest releases in a relaxed, family- and dog-friendly setting.
Taproom
The Brewers Tap is Southsea Brewing's micropub in Southsea, less than a mile from the brewery. The bar has 14 draught lines, including four dedicated cask lines, serving Southsea beers alongside a changing selection of guest releases. A well-stocked can fridge, wines, spirits and soft drinks are also available, and the relaxed venue is both family and dog friendly.
177 Eastney Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, PO4 8EA
The Brewers Tap is Southsea Brewing's micropub in Southsea, less than a mile from the brewery. The bar has 14 draught lines, including four dedicated cask lines, serving Southsea beers alongside a changing selection of guest releases. A well-stocked can fridge, wines, spirits and soft drinks are also available, and the relaxed venue is both family and dog friendly.
