A LOCAL brewery has ensured drinkers can get their favourite beers – by opening its own pub.

While pubs across the country are closing down, Caldicot-based Castles Brewery has bucked the trend by re-opening a watering hole in the centre of Chepstow.

The King’s Head in Welsh Street has been renovated and there are plans to open the second floor as a cocktail bar and the third floor as function room and gym.

The brewery makes and sells its Court Jester, King’s Reserve, Portcullis and White Knight beers on the Severn Bridge Industrial Estate and they are also available in other local pubs.

It has set up Monmouthshire Inns as its pub arm and taken a 15-year lease on the pub which had a ‘VIP’ evening last Thursday (January 28) before opening fully on Friday.

Nathan Micic, who runs the brewery with mum and dad Carolyn and Mike and brother Mat­thew, said the purchase of the King’s Head was a boost for the business.

He said: “You need a guaranteed outlet – you can sell casks to other pubs but you won’t make much money.

“We’re lucky we’ve got permanent pubs which sell our beers but we needed something ourselves.”

The brewery increased its capacity last year and can produce a maximum of 75 casks a week.

The King’s Head is currently open from 11am until 12am on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11am until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays and from 11am until 11pm on Sundays.