Lyme Regis brewery looking forward to merry 2013 (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Lyme Regis brewery looking forward to merry 2013

11:30am Wednesday 9th January 2013 in Lyme Regis By Adrianne Maslen

A LYME Regis brewery that started out in a garden workshop is looking forward to a merry 2013.

Mark Jenkin is raising a glass to what will hopefully be another successful year as his microbrewery is due to move into bigger premises to meet demand.

Mr Jenkin set up the Mighty Hop Brewery in a workshop at the bottom of his garden in Woodmead Road two years ago.

He has now applied for planning permission to change the use of a former builders’ store at Uplyme Road Industrial Estate.

Mr Jenkin said: “It’s a workshop at the bottom of our garden and it’s lovely, but we’ve grown out of it.

“It’s allowed us to grow to the point where we are a big enough business to take a deep breath and do the industrial unit.”

Since opening in 2010, Mr Jenkin has employed salesperson Diane Barnes and female brewer Emma Turner to assist him.

“We have got two local employees who would have a place to work that isn’t in a little workshop at the bottom of our garden,” said Mr Jenkin.

“It’s looking positive for the move.”

They make seven core bears, as well as seasonal beers, and owe much of their success to Lyme’s appreciation of ‘local produce’.

Mr Jenkin said: “I think there are folk who appreciate the fact that we’re a bit different.

“We strive not to be making beer that’s exactly the same as Guinness or Carling, there’s no point. Also, we just work our socks off quite honestly.

“There are lots of people in the area who ‘get it’ about the local produce and that has helped a great deal and we are obviously very grateful to those people.”