Dorset breweries have been working hard over the past few weeks, making sure hospitality venues were supplied with the beer they needed for their reopening.

The sudden closure of pubs, bars and restaurants was a big hit to breweries across the county. However, many were able to adapt and keep operating through home delivery.

Vic Irvine, owner of Cerne Brewery, said: “We adapted the business during lockdown, the pubs closing meant that we suddenly lost two thirds of our business overnight.

“We started delivering to customers so they could still get fresh, good quality, cask real ale to drink at home.

“The British public have drunk their way through the pandemic, so we adapted to it.”

Cerne Brewery, which is co-owned by Mr Irvine and his business partner Jodie Moore, built a taproom into their brewery during the lockdown, as did Copper Street Brewery.

Mr Irvine continued: “Now the pubs have reopened we're working flat out to keep the people drinking from home supplied whilst providing beer for the pubs at the same time.

“It takes a few weeks to brew beer, so we had just about enough time after the announcement to bring our stocks up.

“We're overjoyed with the hospitality industry being allowed to reopen. Pubs aren't just places which sell beer, they are hubs of the community.”

Anthony Buckton, owner of Dorchester-based Copper Street Brewery, said: “We did home deliveries throughout the lockdown, we delivered a lot around the Weymouth and Dorchester area.

“We used social media to get the information out there, we had a lot of regulars who continued to buy but also picked up a lot of new people who were appreciative of getting craft beers delivered to their door.

“Financially, we weren't doing as well as were hoping to at that time of the year but it was certainly worthwhile doing. It kept us afloat through the lockdown and we also managed to pick up a fair few new customers.

“We've been delivering to pubs again but some still aren't reopening yet.

“About a third of our regular pub clients haven't opened and the ones who have opened have been quite cautious about the quantities of stock that they've ordered.”