Behind the Scenes at Vibrant Forest Taproom

Since moving to our current site in 2019, the Taproom has grown with the neighbourhood. What started as pouring fresh weekly beers and chatting with beer lovers is now a five-days-a-week meeting place for our corner of the Forest. It’s more than a bar: it’s where colleagues have a laugh after work, old friends bump into each other, and where you can drop in for an event or a quiet pint after a forest walk.

It hasn’t all been easy, but it’s been incredibly rewarding. We’ve hosted everything from beer festivals to yoga mornings, board gaming, live comedy, music bingo and our pub quizzes. The best bit? Seeing familiar local  faces—friends who bring the energy, the laughter, and the reason we keep doing what we do. We know that many of you have met for the first time at our taproom and are now the best of friends preferring to visit our taproom than other drinking holes nearby

It Starts with the Beer (and the People Who Drink It)

Beer is our heartbeat and you shape it. Many of our events centre on special releases, tap takeovers, or curated line-ups with guest beers from breweries we admire. For us, it’s a chance to experiment and share what we’re excited about. For you, it’s a chance to taste something new—maybe a tiny Vibrant Forest batch you won’t see again, or a gem from a brewery you’ve not met yet.

We love hearing your thoughts at the bar, seeing you bring a mate to try “that one you were talking about,” and watching new favourites ripple through the room one glass at a time.

Food That Feels Local

Street food is now part of Taproom life. Every Saturday a trader rolls in with something delicious—comfort one week, new flavours the next. We’ve built a roster of regulars our community loves and we’re always giving first-timers a chance too.

Add our own pizza setup (with more in the pipeline) and you’ve got proper beer-and-food pairings without leaving the New Forest. Going forwards we are aiming to offer food a lot more often so please keep an eye on announcements.

Variety Is the Spice of Our Calendar

We like to keep things fresh, so our events are joyfully varied—and grounded in the community:

• Beer & cheese evenings with a local cheesemonger

• Live comedy nights featuring brilliant UK acts

• Summer live music sessions & outdoor music bingo

• Sunday community markets championing small independent makers

• Yoga retreat mornings with sauna, massage & breakfast

• Live bands

• Our Spring Gathering beer festivals—500 people raising glasses all day

• Friendly business meet-ups

• Sizzling summer BBQs with friends of the Taproom

Each one brings a different crowd, a different soundtrack, and—behind the scenes—a healthy dose of creative chaos we’ve come to love.

Planning, Logistics… and the Weather Dance

No two events are the same. One day we’re setting up the events floor for a private party, the next we’re filming a quick reel, and the day after we’re working out how many loos and seats it takes to keep a festival happy.

We’re forever reinventing the space—upgrading the bar, switching layouts, turning corners into cosy nooks, and adding little touches you’ll only spot if you’re a regular. And yes, we watch the forecast like hawks. It’s been a great summer, but the last few days have finally brought rain. Outdoor events get trickier with cooler, wetter weather, so we’re planning ahead—think marquees to keep you dry and comfy when the skies turn.

It’s All About You

The Taproom is at its best when it’s full of locals and friends: families sharing pizzas, regulars catching up with the usual banter, and dogs stretched out under benches while their humans compare tasting notes. Our team works hard to keep every event smooth, safe, and welcoming—but it’s your warmth and support that turn a calendar entry into a community moment.

We’ve watched strangers become quiz teammates, traders become friends, and first-time visitors become familiar faces. That’s the magic of a neighbourhood taproom.

Stay in the Loop: Taproom Mailing List

Want first dibs and fewer FOMOs (fear of missing out)? Join our Taproom mailing list and get the latest straight from us to you. It’s the easiest way to hear what’s pouring and what’s popping up next.

Why join:

• Early heads-ups on limited event tickets and special releases

• Weekly tap highlights and the upcoming food truck line-up

• Behind the scenes at the taproom and brewery

• Practical updates like weather-related changes or time tweaks

• Competitions

How to join:

• Pop your email in on our website

• Scan the QR code on Taproom tables

• Or ask the team and we’ll add you in a flash

Sign up here: vibrantforest.co.uk/taproom

What’s Next?

Plenty. Weather permitting, we might squeeze in one more outdoor music bingo, then lean into an autumn of cosy indoor events, a Halloween-themed night, and more chances to bring our amazing local community together over great food and drink. If you’ve never visited, consider this your invitation—bring a friend, bring the dog, and make yourself at home.

See you at the bar and thanks very much for your support.

VF