A BREWERY in Malton has taken a step forward after it gained a licence to sell its beer direct to the public.

Malton Brewery, based in a Grade-II listed building at Navigation Wharf in Malton, was founded last year by Howard Kinder, who was already creating beers and ciders under the popular Horsetown Beer name.

At a meeting of Ryedale District Council (RDC) last Tuesday, the brewery was granted a licence to sell beer direct to the public and also through outlets online.

Mr Kinder said that the brewery currently produces 400 litres of beer per week, which makes it one of Britain’s smallest commercial breweries.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “We have no great aspirations but we’ll see how it goes. It’s interesting to see what it will become.”

He added that the brewery had had a very busy December, with the filming of a new documentary for the BBC which is due to air later in the year.

The RDC licence means that the brewery will be able to sell direct to the public at its premises by the River Derwent but also online - it’s already selling through the retailer Amazon.

The original Malton Brewery closed in 1998 after trading for 14 years from behind the Suddaby’s Crown Hotel in Wheelgate. The name was resurrected by Mr Kinder for his new venture.

And other bits of Malton’s rich brewing history are set to be resurrected too.

Russell & Wrangham was a brewery born in 1897 out of what was formerly the Derwent Brewery - itself started in 1771.

It was acquired by Melbourne Breweries of Leeds in 1958, but the Malton brewery building - situated on the site of the current Morrisons supermarket in Castlegate - was demolished in 1984.

Mr Kinder said he has acquired the name Russell & Wrangham and plans to launch a line of beers with their vintage original bottle labels on them.