A pub has started Worcester’s first brewery in 16 years.

The Firefly in Lowesmoor started selling its first brew, a four per cent pale ale, last month.

Owner Matt Pugh said he “just wanted to make beer” and bought a brewing system from America which he set up in the back of the pub.

He said: “I started getting into a lot of craft beer and I started thinking about how much I wanted to make it. I’m just really into beer so I thought I’d have a go myself.

“Fundamentally it’s an American pale ale. It’s a lot more hoppy than an English beer.”

When the ale first went on sale at the pub, the barrel was empty by the next afternoon.

Mr Pugh said: “I was quite surprised that it turned out good, because it was the first one. I prepared for it to be chucked away. But I did so much reading and research so that’s helped me get it right first time. It’s selling really fast when it’s available, and I will be brewing it as regularly as possible. Hopefully it should be on sale permanently within a month.”

Worcester has not had a brewery since the Jolly Roger Brewery stopped trading in 1996. But Bill Ottaway, of the Worcester branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, said the region has a lot of history in the brewing process, as hops were produced in the fields around Worcester.

Mr Ottaway said: “It’s fantastic that the Firefly have decided to expand their business. Times are hard but we are seeing more real ales sold in pubs and breweries starting up. It’s fantastic to see Worcester back on the brewing map and I am looking forward to sampling a pint or two.”