THE winner of last year’s coveted Business of the Year award says it owes its success to its expansion plans.

Upham Brewery announced plans to increase its current 12-pub portfolio to 30-40 pubs over the next three to four years – despite having only been in operation since January 2012.

It was presented the accolade at the Winchester Business Excellence Awards ceremony at the Guildhall last June.

David Butcher, director, said: “The success we have had lies in starting and moving the business forward.

“It’s about a quality product, run very efficiently, with a vision for the future.

“We hope to get another six pubs this year, then six the year after and six the next until we reach that figure.”

And their plans don’t stop with the acquisition of independents.

Earlier this year, brewery bosses requested planning permission to build a brand new state-of-the-art facility across the field from where they are currently based, between Lower Upham and Ashton.

It is hoped the new site – which has caused some controversy with locals – will allow the pub to continue to grow, boosting output from 12,000 to 60,000 casks a year.

“We’re very firmly rooted in Hampshire and we’ll remain that way,” Mr Butcher added. “Everything we do is for the prominence in the business: for the food and brewery. The people are the most important part; either local to the pubs or the brewery.”

The company has achieved a number of other awards since it began, most recently a silver award at the prestigious International Brewing Awards for its Punter Ale.

“Being recognised in so many awards are good for the team to see how we’ve been performing,” Mr Butcher added.

When asked about his favourite moment from the last 12 months, he said: “It’s just watching the growth of a new pub and watching the people grow with it.

“A year ago we were selling 100 tubs a week, now we’re selling 300.”