Southampton’s largest craft brewery and taproom has closed, blaming Covid, Brexit and the cost of living crisis.

Unity Brewing Co, which originally set up in Portswood, before moving to larger premises on Princes Street in Northam in 2019, shortly before the first Covid lockdown, described the decision to close as “heartbreaking”.

“Unfortunately the terrible combination of Covid, Brexit and the cost of living crisis have made it impossible for us to operate without making a loss every month,” said founder and head brewer Jimmy Hatherley, pictured above.

Unity said the closure is part of a wider trend in the independent brewing industry, with 82 breweries closing in the last year.

The Unity Bottleshop & Tasting Room, launched in November 2022 in Bedford Place, will now undergo a rebrand and continue to operate as what it describes as “the city’s dedicated craft beer, natural wine and no-/low-alcohol drinks retailer”.

 Preparing to open the Unity Bottleshop & Tasting Room in former off-licence Cloud Wine, Bedford Place last year