REAL ale enthusiast Jennifer Tingay is hop-ing to open her own brewery right in the centre of Bournemouth.

Her company Southbourne Brewing Limited has been up and running for two years and she has eight beers on sale in various hotels and bars across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Currently Jennifer is using the Town Mill Brewery in Lyme Regis where she worked before setting up her own business but in order for it to progress to the next stage she really needs her own brewery.

But after months of searching she has finally found the perfect location in Poole Hill, at the former Bumbles Nightclub.

She will be the first brewer in Bournemouth itself - the Bournemouth Brewing Company, which has been up and running for a few years, is based in Poole.

"We have been looking for the perfect location for a while now," said Jennifer, who started working in the pub industry when she was a student at the University of East Anglia in Norwich.

"Originally we wanted something in Southbourne to match our name but the location in Poole Hill just seemed perfect for what we are trying to create.

"I want it to be a complete experience for visitors. Somewhere they can come and enjoy a drink but also where they can see how the beer is made as well.

"We are right at the beginning of the planning stage but hopefully we can create something great for the town that will entertain both tourists and locals."

A public consultation is being held at 41 to 45 Poole Hill between 4pm and 8pm tomorrow (Wednesday) and following that Jennifer can then submit a planning application to Bournemouth Borough Council.

18th November 4-8pm for the local crowd funded business The company has won three prizes in the past 12 months for its ales.

In October it received first prize at The Label of the Year 2015 awards for its bottled “Sunbather” Red Ale and earlier this year it celebrated a Silver Medal at The International Brewing Awards for its oatmeal stout “Stroller”.

Southbourne Ales was also voted New Business of the Year “Dorset Magazine Food Drink and Farming Awards” in the autumn of 2014.

The new brewery will produce the established Southbourne Ales range as well as a new brand which is currently under development.

If all goes to plan Jennifer aims to employ thirteen staff and to take on an apprentice every two years.