IT is probably the most secure beer in Hampshire.

A new micropub has opened on the site of a former Southampton bank - and where better to store the beer than the safe.

• Inside the Overdraft micropub - in pictures >>

The venue which is just 65 square metres is located in Shirley Road and called Overdraft Craft Ale Beer.

The 110-year-old building where it is housed is a former Natwest Bank and Mr Rai has kept some of the sites heritage alive.

The plan was the brainchild of beer and real ale enthusiast Amrik Rai, 55, from Shirley, who hopes it will be a huge hit with punters.

Overdraft Craft Ale Beer is very much a family affair, while the idea came from Mr Rai the day-to-day running of the business will be in the hands of his 25-year-old son Mikha.

Mr Rai was inspired by micropubs and breweries in the United States and believes there is a market for real ale and micropubs in Southampton, he pointed to the success of Bitter Virtue off license store in Cambridge Road, Southampton and the Butchers Hook micropub in Bitterne Park.

Mr Rai said: "We could not have found a better place because a pub needs a good cellar and the vault is nine degrees at all times which is the perfect optimum temperature to keep beer cool."

"It has been a labour of love, we have no experience in any industry like this, it's just a passion.

"We have no renovation skills or building skills, but we know how we wanted it to look like and we wanted it look like a half way between a factory and a Victorian ale house."

It will be open everyday from 5pm to 10pm and has capacity for 50 people and will have 15 ales on rotation.

It will be the second micropub in the city following the success of the Butchers Hook which opened in February last year.

A third micropub called the Bookshop Alehouse on the site of a former bookshop in Portswood Road has also been granted planning permission.