Sips craft beer bar celebrates two years in Salisbury

Sips, at 4 The Maltings, invited customers, friends and family inside for a day of entertainment to mark the business's two-year birthday in Salisbury.

Owner Jacob Price, 32, greeted smiling guests who arrived with gifts and fond memories to share.

Local vinyl DJs were enlisted to supply live music into the night, including Granny Franks, to "exemplify what Sips is all about".

Customers packed the bar out and sprawled into the outdoor Maltings seating area on Saturday, April 6, to show their support for Jacob and his team.

Customers piled into Sips for its second birthday. (Image: Newsquest)

The bar prides itself on creating a tasteful, positive atmosphere and a place where guests meet likeminded friendly people.

Around half the birthday beers had been stored in the cellar, some for up to a year, and were unveiled for the special occasion. The other half were returning all-time favourites.

Jacob described the birthday bash as a "celebration of quality beer and good vibes".

Kiely Rooney, Mark Robinson from Terraform and Jacob Price. (Image: Newsquest)

Jacob managed a few similar venues in Devizes before taking the plunge and starting a first-of-its-kind Salisbury city centre craft bar in 2022.

Since then, it has grown to be held in high regard by beer nerds and casual drinkers alike which Jacob says is "positively overwhelming".

"It’s almost impossible to take in. People travelled from Southampton. There’s just lots of people who are very happy to celebrate Sips," he said.

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Hamish Ferguson, from Salisbury, is a regular at Sips and visits three to four times a week.

“It’s just a remarkable day,” said the 59-year-old as he sipped a pint of Arbor Ales which happens to be his favourite served at the bar.

Owner Jacob Price with regular Hamish Ferguson. (Image: Newsquest)

Jacob's journey began after discovering a passion for the drinks he serves, he said: "That constant turnaround, striving to make something better and develop new flavours - it's that chase of excitement.

“We never keep the same beers on tap it all cycles and changes. That was the idea. We didn’t ever anticipate it to be as popular as it has been. It has been magnificent to witness the cultivation of a community."

Kiely Rooney, 37, has worked behind the bar at Sips for 18 months and praised the intendent business's ability to "thrive" despite tricky times.

Speaking directly to his loyal customers, Jacob said: "I would like to say a massive thank you and a big warm hug to everyone who made Sips what it is.

"It’s the people who make it what it is. I'm very excited for the future to see what Sips can do for Salisbury next."