Neil Hodgkinson is brewing a true expression of life at Drop the Anchor in Christchurch...

Owner

Neil Hodgkinson

When was Drop the Anchor Brewery opened?

May 4th, 2017

What do you do?

Owner, Brewery cleaner and bar person!

Bournemouth Echo:

What do you love about Drop the Anchor?

I love creating new ales for people to try. With over 50 different recipes, winning multiple gold medals for best ales and all the people I have met who have become great friends, it has been an amazing three years.

What do you bring to your clients?

We bring back the local, real ale and place to chat and to meet. There Are No Strangers Here; Only Friends You Haven’t Yet Met. We like people to feel comfortable, pick up a guitar and play, to feel snug.

Bournemouth Echo:

How has Covid-19 affected you?

As soon as the pubs closed all my sales stopped. How have you adapted? We have had to adapt quickly to keep the business afloat. The day after the pubs closed we opened a take-away service as we still had rents to pay. The following week we started a delivery service - it was good to see old faces again and we always stopped for a chat.

Is Drop the Anchor open to the public now?

We are opening towards the end of July to put safeguarding in place, moreover, to make sure that the public feel comfortable and safe. We are moving to East Close Farm, Lyndhurst Road, Christchurch and are hoping to open to the public at the beginning of August. The new location means we will have plenty of space to keep social distancing rules.

Bournemouth Echo:

What measures have you put in place to keep people safe?

We will implement a one-way system, if you order online or drive-by for collection, we will be able to place the goods in the boot of your car and off you go.

Anything else you would like us to know?

We are in the process of upgrading the brewery and would like to thank everyone who has supported Drop the Anchor over the years. We cannot wait to see everyone’s friendly face again. 

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