The Wine Shop in Battle Road now has a Sussex ales among its shelves of foreign wines and beers and so far it is proving a hit with customers.

Owner Charlie Patel has had pumps installed so beer lovers can pop in to the Hollington store and fill up on Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter.

The popular Lewes-brewed beer is only £1.99 a pint which, according to Mr Patel, makes a trip to The Wine Shop cheaper than a night in the pub.

It certainly seems to have caught the imagination of locals because Mr Patel sold nearly 100 pints of Harvey's in the first three days of having the pumps.

As of this weekend Harvey's will be joined by a guest ale, with a second pump being used to rotate other popular real ales including Adnams' Broadside and Timothy Taylor's Landlord.

Ale enthusiasts can either take down their own container to be filled with their beer of choice or borrow one from the shop, for a deposit of about 40p, which can be re-used over and over again.

Mr Patel, who has another off-licence with taps in Tonbridge, said he carried out extensive market research with local drinkers before deciding on opening the St Leonards store two months ago.

He said: "Drinking in pubs can be expensive these days. We are trying to offer a cheap alternative and, after talking to a locals, it was obvious how popular real ale was.

"I think we are the only off-licence in Sussex doing this. Hopefully word of mouth will spread and we can start attracting local real ale fans."