A PENTON Mewsey businessman and beer lover is on a mission to set up a new venture “that Andover can be proud of.”

Guy Rolfe, pictured, has filed a planning application to convert the kitchen basement of his Grade-II listed home into a microbrewery, an idea in the making for two-and-a-half years.

Having spent that time doing taster brews every week with a friend, Guy now eagerly awaits Christmas Day, the day by which Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) is due to decide on the application.

Mr Rolfe said: “I have a passion about a couple of things, business - I started my first business at 26 - and local employment. I actively want it to grow so we can start employing local people whether that’s in Penton Mewsey or Andover, using services like delivery firms or designers for example.

“I want to keep it as local as possible to put Andover back on the map. I have so many ideas and visions for the place. I want to have people think “crickey, Andover has a fantastic brewery.”

The father-of-three has already pioneered four ales, Penton Porter, Colonel Bob, 50 Not Out and Spanish Shooter, all with a personal meaning behind the names, and plans to keep them coming.

The venture could be the third running family business at Penton Lodge which has been in the Rolfe family since 1947 and houses three generations under one roof. Currently the estate runs as a wedding venue and an activity day centre for adults with disabilities.

Guy is also envisaging the microbrewery to cater for wedding guests, with soon-to-be-married couples being able to tailor their own ales to suit their big day.

The application is to change the use of the existing boiler room and kitchen area to a microbrewery, without requiring any alterations or structural changes to the building.

To view the application go to testvalley.gov.uk/planning-and-building/viewplanningapplicationsonline and search using the reference 17/02785/FULLN.

To find out more about Penton Park Brewery visit https://www.facebook.com/THEPPB/