Warmly welcoming James Banks to Langham’s – our new Brewery Manager and Head Brewer.
James lives in Petersfield having moved to Sussex from the Isle of Wight where he designed, installed and was head brewer at the Wight Knuckle Brewery for George Bristow, a well-known former Lodsworth resident and previous owner/landlord of the Hollist Arms.
More recently James has been head brewer at Farnham Brewery.
James has a fabulous repertoire of exciting brews; do pop into the brewery to say hi, there’s a friendly welcome guaranteed.

“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance. ” Alan Watts, writer and speaker.

Q: What got you into brewing?
A: I’ve always liked producing for others to enjoy. It started when I was really young baking on Sundays for neighbours. Brewing uses simple ingredients, but includes chemistry and biology which adds to the interest and creates some unbelievable results.

Q: Which beer was the first craft beer you brewed?
A: My first ‘all grain’ batch as a homebrewer didn’t go according to plan – a simple pale recipe became a barley wine at 8% ABV, quite pleasant with a dash of Ribena apparantly. I remember it differently!

Q: What’s your favourite pub in the UK?
A: An impossible question given the multitude of choice and changes over the years, but it would have to be a good ‘local’ wherever you currently are.

Q: If you weren’t in the brewing industry, what would you be doing?
A: Either pressing locally grown apples for juice, or campaigning/growing UK hemp for trade in all relevant sectors such as, food and beverage and the construction industries.

Q: Which is your current favourite Langham beer and why?
A: Session IPA, it’s a perfect balance between sweetness and bitterness, plus the Citra lingers nicely on the palate. It’s very flavourful for a lighter ABV, too.

Q: Who or what has influenced you the most?
A: Music continues to influence me, and has since a young age.

Q: Please tell us one thing not many people know about you.
A: At 11 years old, I really wanted to work for Panorama.

Q: What are the most important lessons you have learned so far in your life?
A: Be realistic and don’t exaggerate your abilities. Others will always see through this; often with a dim view. Don’t always take the short cuts in life.

Q: What kinds of things make you the happiest now?
A: A long undisturbed swim in the sea, a walk with unbelievable views and with a cosy pub at the end.

Q: If you could invite any 3 people (alive or dead) to enjoy a pint in the Langham Tap, which 3 would you choose?
A: Rik Mayall, Alan Watts, Siouxsie Sioux

Q: What life advice would you pass along to your younger self?
A: Don’t be so keen to try and please everyone and don’t be afraid to be yourself.

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Why not make a pitstop at our Brewery Taproom as part of your enjoyment of the South Downs National Park?