The Shipwreck Brewhouse continues to weather the pandemic storm

Paul Samson, owner of the Shipwreck Brewhouse on Victoria Road West, decided he must find ways to invest and adapt during the coronavirus pandemic, to ensure his business remained viable.

During the Christmas period he received plenty of local support, with customers flocking to its website to buy gift sets and mini beer kegs - which inspired him to keep going.

Still opening three days a week to sell non-alcoholic drinks, Mr Samson is also building a function room and bottle shop in the micropub, ready for the day he can welcome customers to sit inside again.

Some of the county's finest breweries have jumped on board with the Shipwreck, giving Fylde coast beer lovers the opportunity to support them too.

Crankshaft Brewery in Leyland, Black Edge Brewery in Horwich, Withnells Brewery in Chorley, and Farmyard Ales in Cockerham are among the firms reaching out to Fylde coast customers.

"We found people wanted to support us as a local business and also saw that their money was going to local breweries, which means the beer is fresher and it supports local jobs and businesses," Paul said.

"Most of the breweries we work with don’t have access to Fylde drinkers, they mostly deliver within 10 to 15 miles but struggle to justify the cost of delivering to Fylde addresses.

"They also either aren’t big enough to attract supermarket attention, or they can't offer the margins supermarkets want.

"It's not just about buying bottles, we are trying to be innovative. We buy local cask beer, condition it and box it for delivery, hire out and sell hand pumps, and do fresh beer hoppers.

"It's all about keeping our business going but helping others as well, it solves a bit of a problem for everybody really."

In a bid to adapt to the take-away only rules during the pandemic, Paul also began to stock unique products rarely found elsewhere, including carbonated lager kegs, which keep gas in the beer for an authentic "straight from the pump" experience at home.

Not only is the micropub supporting Lancashire beer makers, but Cleveleys community group Care for Cleveleys is also set to benefit from donations through sales of an upcoming new beer range, helping them to continue maintaining the town.

Jane Littlewood, chairman of Care for Cleveleys, said: "It's brilliant news that Paul is going to make a donation from sales towards making Cleveleys brighter and better.

"The Care for Cleveleys team are looking forward to the end of restrictions, to be able to get out and look after the town again."