ONE of the last working reminders of Farnham's rich beer brewing history, the Lion Brewery in West Street, looks set to close after its owner applied to convert the historic hop kiln and brewery into five homes.

The Grade II listed Lion Brewery was founded by renowned local hop grower and property owner George Trimmer in 1859 during Farnham's hop growing boom and it has always been used in association with the brewing trade - albeit only as an off licence in recent times.

However, after current owner Dick Wright failed to find a new tenant for the off licence, which itself dates back to 1893 and has been run by four generations of the Wright family, it seems the Lion Brewery's 153-year reign at the heart of Farnham's brewing trade could soon be over.

For full story, see this week's Farnham Herald.