Katherine and Steve Bull opened the West Street Alehouse in Fareham in June 2019, a year after Kat's sister Shannon Bull had opened her micropub The Four-Ale Taproom in Gosport.

Kat takes up the story: "Steve thought it was a brilliant idea to spend our wedding savings on opening up!

ALSO READ: The award-winning micropub with the big beer selection

"We had four months to make enough money so we could still pay for our wedding! We somehow managed it and we have both been working at the pub full-time since.

"We are a knowledgeable and passionate team who love what we do and what we drink.

"Since opening we have sadly spent more time in lockdowns than we have open, but we have still been lucky enough to develop a loyal and brilliant following of customers."

The tiny micropub occupies the shop space vacated by The Crafty Makery and has room for around 25 inside, plus a number of big German Beer Festival style tables and benches at the front.

Specialising in craft keg beers, cask ales and real ciders, West Street Alehouse was entered into the Good Beer Guide in its first year of opening.

The most memorable moment of Katherine's tenure came in April 2021 when pubs were able to re-open for outdoor drinking only.

"It was a grey, rainy and miserable day and I thought we were wasting our time," she said. "From the moment we put the benches out, every single spot was filled. It was amazing to see the support the people of Fareham have for a small business that had been open a total of nine months before the first lockdown, and that they hadn’t forgotten us, they still wanted us there.

"They sat outside with umbrellas and blankets and it didn’t matter at all that it wasn’t the nicest day, or that their glasses were being re-filled with rain water as quickly as they were being drunk. I had a little cry that day, it was so humbling and amazing.

"It was challenging being a new business without even a full year's trading under us before the first lockdown came into effect. But I think the fact we have a close knit team and we’re generally glass half full people kept us rolling with the punches and brought us safely through the other side."

The only constant beer is the Keller Pils house beer from Lost & Grounded Brewery. Tap 1 and 2 host an ever changing array of sessionable, juicy New England IPA’s which are by far the best sellers and everyone's favourite drinks.

On Sundays, customers can enjoy a free cheeseboard. The rest of the week, it's just bar snacks, but drinkers are encouraged to feast on the delights from local takeaways.

A quiz night takes place on the last Monday of each month and a newly introduced quarterly comedy night is also proving popular.

• West Street Alehouse is our pub of the week. If you'd like us to feature your watering hole, just click on the link below or email lorelei.reddin@dailyecho.co.uk