Beer will sail into glasses at a King’s Lynn hotel in a new partnership that harks back to the days of seagoing merchant network the Hanseatic League.
Barsham Brewery, near Fakenham, is soon to have its first consignment of amber brew delivered to the Bank House Hotel on a 1950s wooden whelk.
Susanna Soames, brewery director, hailed the new initiative, which will see beer brewed from local water, barley and malt transported over the waves.
She said: “Just as our land has been farmed for centuries we are thrilled the beer we produce can be delivered under sail as it would have in years gone by.”
The Wells-based Coastal Exploration Company will make the delivery, setting off from Wells Quay on October 5 and arriving in King’s Lynn about 24 hours later.
Henry Chamberlain, founder of the maritime firm, said: “Our philosophy is to run a sustainable business by investing in community engagement projects and the movement of cargo under sail, and adventures on traditional wooden sailing boats, along the beautiful Norfolk coast.”
The beer will even be taken to the quay via a battery powered Nissan E-NV200 van, adding to the project’s green credentials.
Jeannette Goodrich, Bank House’s owner, said: “We are delighted to be adding the Barsham Brewery to our popular range of beers.”
After the delivery, Bank House will host a reception where King’s Lynn mayor Nick Daubney and other guests will sample the beer and hear more about the project from Mr Chamberlain.
King’s Lynn was Britain’s first member of the northern German-centred Hanseatic League, which wielded huge power and influence in the North and Baltic seas in the Middle Ages.
Its member towns and cities built up what is considered to be among the world’s first maritime free trade zones.
The Coastal Exploration Company is hoping to run monthly deliveries of cargo under sail for businesses in King’s Lynn and Norwich in the future.
Mr Chamberlain said it was not just a marketing stunt, but about altering businesses’ perceptions of what is possible and what needs to be done to help preserve the environment.
Bank House was recently listed as a UK Top 10 Town Pub by the Good Pub Guide 2019.
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