Shanty Spirits Applies to Add Tap Room and Live Music at Arthur Bray Yard in Poole

An independent Poole distillery has submitted plans to expand its offering with a dedicated tap room and live music as part of a new premises licence application.

Shanty Spirits Ltd has applied to BCP Council for a full variation of its current licence at its unit in Arthur Bray Yard, located in Poole Town.

Expanding the Experience in Poole Town

Known locally for its seaweed botanical vodka, rum and small-batch spirits distilled on site, Shanty Spirits is seeking approval to update its layout to include a tap room within the existing premises.

The proposed variation would allow:

• Live and recorded music indoors and outdoors between 9am and 11.30pm
• On-site alcohol sales from 11am to 11pm
• Extended off-site alcohol sales from 8am to 11pm
• Late-night refreshments between 11pm and 11.30pm
• Extended hours until 1am on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and during Poole Quay events

The consultation period for the application runs until 13 March 2026.

Building a Community Hub in a Historic Poole Yard

Arthur Bray Yard, close to the old lifting bridge in Poole, has long been a working environment dating back to around 1850. Historically home to a forge and shaped by reclaimed foundry land, the Yard today is evolving into a cluster of independent producers and creative businesses.

The distillery has already hosted several winter trial events under Temporary Event Notices, creating a relaxed atmosphere with cocktails made just metres from where the spirits are distilled. According to the business, these events have operated without noise complaints.

The tap room itself sits approximately 100 yards back from the main road, within a yard that remains home to mechanics and fabricators. Neighbouring independent businesses include Barking Cat Brewery, which already holds a premises licence, and S Bomb, contributing to what is becoming a growing destination for craft drinks and local producers in Poole, Dorset.

A Boost for Poole’s Independent Scene

If approved, the plans would further strengthen Poole Town’s reputation for independent food and drink experiences, particularly around Poole Quay and the historic waterfront. With outdoor space that becomes a suntrap in warmer months and the potential for local food vendors to collaborate on-site, the proposal signals continued investment in Dorset’s coastal hospitality scene.

As Poole continues to attract visitors and support homegrown businesses, developments like this highlight the evolving character of Arthur Bray Yard as a hub for community, craft and collaboration in the heart of Dorset.