05/07/2025
Farewell, for now, from Ascapart Brewery
After just over a year of brewing adventure, we’re announcing the closure of Ascapart Brewery at Mettricks Portswood.
It’s a decision that hasn’t come lightly. In fact we’re a bit heartbroken. Despite our passion, creativity, and some incredibly tasty beers, the realities of running a small brewery and hospitality business in the UK in 2025 have become impossible to ignore.
Electricity rates are now over 4x higher than an equivalent brewery in the US and 40% higher than the EU average.
Alcohol duty remains stubbornly high.
Ingredients costs have continued to creep up.
Consolidation amongst the big craft brewers makes it ever harder for the small guys to compete.
Rising employer National Insurance costs and business rates have made it financially unsustainable for Mettricks to continue subsidising a loss-making brewery operation.
That said — we regret nothing. It’s been a bold attempt to further develop our local craft scene and we’re proud of what we brewed, the community we built, and the stories shared over an Ascapart pint.
Thank you to everyone who supported Ascapart Beer over our short but sweet existence. Best of luck to Jimmy, Ascapart Co-founder, as he goes on to his next chapter.
But this isn’t the end of the story for us. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be transforming the brewery space into an expanded and upgraded Ascapart Coffee Roastery — giving Wilson the room to take his craft to the next level and bring to life our true passion: exceptional coffee, roasted in Southampton, shared with the world.
There’s still Ascapart beer in stock at Mettricks — available while it lasts.
Here’s to trying to do exciting, high quality things in our city, rejecting the bland and generic (it’s not the first time and won’t be the last), and here’s to finding the opportunities in new beginnings.
Spencer and the Mettricks & Ascapart Team 🍻💛
