REAL ale enthusiasts could be enjoying a pint at Bournemouth’s first brewery as early as September.

According to Jennifer Tingay, owner of Southbourne Ales Limited, plans to open a brewery at the top of the town in Poole Hill are on track.

Last week the company submitted a licensing application to Bournemouth Borough Council which would allow the brewery to serve alcohol from 8am to midnight seven days a week.

“There were a few delays over the last few months but we are now moving in the right direction,” said Jennifer, who started working in the pub industry when she was a student at the University of East Anglia in Norwich.

“We already have planning permission and hopefully once we get the licence we can get into the building and begin the process of turning it into a brewery.”

Having her own brewery has been a dream of Jennifer’s for a long time and after months of searching she fond the perfect location at the former Bumbles Nightclub site.

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 got a lot of work ahead of us before the brewery is up and running but if everything goes really swimmingly then we could potentially open in September,” she added.

“At the moment the building is a blank canvas inside and there is currently no front window but once we get started on the building work it should all come together.

“I have already purchased our brewing kit and now we are just waiting for the chance to install it.”

Southbourne Ales has eight beers on sale in various hotels and bars across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and 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”.

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

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