A NEW brewery and taproom has opened in Ponteland.

Flying Gang Brewing, which calls itself ‘the best brewery you’ve never heard of’, had its first customers on April 17.

Andrew Findlay, brewer and director at Flying Gang Brewing, said: “Our first weekend was really good. Lots of locals came down and had a look. The sun shone which is always a help!”

The brewery, which also operates the popular Left Luggage Room in Monkseaton, hopes to welcome more than just ale enthusiasts to its new operation, and has a wide selection of gins in particular.

Andrew said: “We have our own beers – three pales and one stout – and we’re just seeing how people react to them on tap weekends.

“We’ve also gone for a selection of stuff that non-beer drinkers can enjoy as well. If we’re just beer focused that can put couples and big groups off.

“In terms of gin, we went for the last dozen best ones we’ve had.”

With the Diamond, the Blackbird, Seven Stars, and YOLO all within walking distance, Flying Gang Brewing has a lot of competition in the area. However, Andrew isn’t worried about that.

He said: “Ponteland is a lovely place and that’s one of the things that attracted us here. We’re bringing something that hasn’t traditionally been in the town and it’ll be a little rougher around the edges than the other pubs here.

“We are going to rely on the fact that the beer’s good and it’s reasonably priced, and we’re looking for the same 18-80 demographic that we have at the Left Luggage Room.”

Flying Gang Brewing is located on Meadowfield Industrial Estate in Ponteland and is open on Saturdays and Sundays.