After a long relationship, we’ve decided it’s time for a change. We’ve loved having Hawkstone at The Swan, but over time the relationship has become increasingly difficult. Communication hasn’t always been forthcoming, promised support hasn’t always materialised, and conversations around pricing and deals haven’t delivered the solutions we needed for our customers. As you may know, Hawkstone has changed considerably from the small, local brewery relationship we originally fell in love with with production now largely taking place at a wholesale brewery in Scotland, and only two products currently being produced at their original Oxfordshire brewery, it no longer feels like the partnership we signed up for.

Whilst Oxfordshire isn't exactly local to Hampshire it was the best balance of variety of products and size of operation to meet our needs. It's a big balancing act of variety, quality, price and support.

Eventually, we realised we were putting more into the relationship than we were getting back. And nobody wants to be stuck in an unrequited beer-mance! So, rather than dwell on the past, we’re calling time on the relationship and looking forward to a fresh chapter at The Swan. Welcome, Otter & St Austell!

We’re incredibly excited to welcome Otter Brewery and St Austell Brewery as our new brewing partners. Not only do they bring us some fantastic beers, but they also bring something we’ve really missed — proper communication, support and a relationship that works both ways. And there’s another rather important bonus…we’ve worked hard to make sure our new beers offer great quality without the hefty price tag, meaning you can enjoy more of them without your wallet needing a lie down afterwards. We no longer felt able to justify the price we would have to charge with the new supply agreement for wholesale produced products.