BREWDOG Basingstoke has opened its doors to its very first customers today as the chain’s 75th bar in the UK.

Dozens of people queued up to be among the first inside the new bar in Festival Place, which welcomed customers, and dogs, inside from 12pm.

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Among the first in the queue were BrewDog fans father and daughter Nick and Helen Brett, who travelled from Swindon for the opening in a bid to win a year’s supply of free beer.

The pair have been to more than 60 BrewDog openings since winning free beer for a year at the opening of the Reading branch five years’ ago.

Helen, 35, said: “They had a raffle at the Reading opening and we won a year’s worth of beer. We have been going to others ever since.”

Nick, 62, said they had a dilemma because there were two BrewDog bars opening today – another in Hull – and so they had to decide which to attend. He said: “We came to Basingstoke because it’s closer. I enjoy the beer and there’s also a good vibe and culture and buzz about it.”

Staff cheered customers as they entered the new bar to have a look around and order drinks and food.

First inside was John Shaw who went along to the opening to raise a glass in memory of a friend.

The 58-year-old from Basingstoke, said: “A friend of mine is a BrewDog share holder and he’s a big fan. His husband died of cancer a few days ago so I’m here to raise a toast to him.”

The independent Scottish craft brewer is serving up 30 taps of draft beer, including a range from the south of England as well as further afield, alongside food, freshly canned crowlers, and bottled offerings to drink in, takeaway or have delivered to your home.

The new bar will have two guest taps to support the local breweries of Basingstoke all year round and weekly beer launches and celebrations.

Visitors can also sample BrewDog’s burger and wings menu which includes Vegan Mondays when customers can enjoy two for one on vegan or vegetarian main meals; Wing Wednesdays with unlimited wings on offer; and Hoppy Meals for children.

Sustainability is at the heart of all BrewDog bars and the entire menu is 50 per cent plant-based. James Brown, managing director of BrewDog, said: “There’s currently no other bar offering quite like ours in the area, so this is a really exciting opportunity for us to bring our ethos of craft beer and sustainability to the town of Basingstoke.

“We’re a proud Living Wage employer that shares 10 per cent of our profits with our team annually and work hard to invest back in our local team of 25, as well as engage with local suppliers and community projects in the area, so we can’t wait to become part of the Basingstoke community.”

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