THE owner of Andover’s first and only micro-bar will offer something “that isn’t run of the mill” after opening the venue opening its doors this week.

Local brewer Tim Abram has overseen the conversion of an old patisserie on Winchester Street into the Andover Tap – a micro-bar offering a range of local ales, gins and bar snacks.

Tim, who has brewed beer for Test Brewing for the last two years, says he hopes his new venture will provide something new for the town’s fellow beer lovers.

“I wanted somewhere I could drink and have a pint from a range of beers, because there are so many local breweries,” he said.

“We need to support them and also offer something else to the town that isn’t run of the mill.”

Before working for Test Brewing, Tim was a keen home brewer for years, following in his grandfather’s footsteps.

He has also previously run his own pub, but his passion for craft beer drove him to pursue this latest venture.

He added: “I ran pubs before and I like drinking at tap rooms and I like craft beer, and there’s lots of them around but just not in and around Andover.

“Also my wife thought it was a good idea.”

As well as the ales, Andover Tap offers a range of local gins, plus tea and coffees, available from 11am. The venue also sells various produce bought from local providers, including pork pies, sausage rolls and olives from Austwick Fresh Foods.

And while much of the bar is about offering something new, its décor very much relies on the old.

Tim said: “The whole ethos is that all the furniture, fittings and fixtures are recycled and upcycled. The bar’s made out of old pallets. The tables came from Upham Brewery’s tap room, the benches are made out of scaffolding planks.

“As much as we could use is made from recycled stuff.”

Having only opened on Wednesday, Tim says there is still more to come with plans to add local ciders to the bar’s offering.

Customers at Andover Tap on Thursday had positive words for the new bar and its beers.

“I think it’s the best thing that’s happened to Andover in years,” said one.

“It was lovely,” said another. “I’ll come back and try some more.”

Andover Tap is currently open from 11am until 12.30am, with alcohol served from midday. A formal opening is planned for next week.