The Sixpenny Tap, Salisbury

Well described by PSM and Quinno below. All I would add is that the toilet was of the Portaloo/turdis variety, there is a pile of brewery detritus lying around and that it provides a very good venue for walkers or cyclists due to the wonderful countryside in which it is situated. I had a pint of Gold which was, predictably, in perfect condition. Well worth the journey for the beer but don't expect any frills.

In 2009, the Wayland Brewery moved from their original site in Addlestone, Surrey, to the small Dorset village of Sixpenny Handley (documented on the BBC's Escape to the Country programme I seem to recall), changing the brewery's name in the process. Today we find a well established brewery making its way into many of the county's top ale houses and replete with its own on-site bar. The brewery is housed in a farm outbuilding on a small industrial premises on the way into the village. The bar itself is a tiny room with virtually no space for drinkers at all. There is a pew down one side of the room and a few bar stools along the basic servery, but frankly, wherever you sit, you're going to be in someone's way. Thankfully there is plenty of outdoor seating including a sizable covered area, allowing for ample overspill. The room is quite quaintly decorated, with hop lined walls, mirrors, posters, promotional material and stacks of bottles everywhere you look. A few bits of CAMRA literature were displayed on a shelf to the left and the overall feel is of a tiny country pub crossed with a bottle shop, which is no mean feat in a featureless industrial unit. There were four Sixpenny beers being pulled from the pumps when I visited and at least one more presumably being poured directly from a barrel somewhere. Bottles can also be enjoyed on site, but the larger vessels are for take out only. The place was doing a roaring trade when we dropped in, with a couple of villagers propping up the bar and plenty of other folk dropping in to get their take-outs. The staff were very friendly and helpful and I obviously ended up leaving with an armful of bottles. I was really impressed with this place and thought they had a slick operation and a pleasant place to drop by for a quick drink. Sadly, the village is difficult to reach without your own transport and the bar keeps very limited hours, so check the website carefully before visiting. A great little place and Surrey's loss is definitely Dorset's gain.

Official site of The Sixpenny Tap - www.sixpennybrewery.co.uk

Official site of The Sixpenny Tap - www.sixpennybrewery.co.uk