There was fire on the grill and a buzz in the air as The White Hart, Whitchurch, welcomed back landlord Nick Panterlis with a proper South African braai—complete with sizzling steak, traditional boerewors, droëwors, and chilled cans of Arkell’s Malthouse Craft Lager.

The event, held on Wednesday 16th April, marked not just Nick’s return, but also the official launch of Arkell’s best-selling lager in cans for the very first time—perfectly timed for Indie Beer Week.

It was a welcome homecoming for Nick, who has returned to manage The White Hart after spending time back in his native South Africa. Nick, who began his Arkell’s hospitality journey at The White Hart in 2017, was warmly welcomed back by locals, with many long-time customers turning out for an evening of food, drink and community spirit. Originally from South Africa, Nick grew up helping out in his family’s bakery business, where his love of food and service first took root.

Julie Moss, Managed House Controller at Arkell’s Brewery, said:

“It’s fantastic to have Nick back at The White Hart. He brings real warmth and personality to the pub, and the connection he has with the community here is something special. Seeing him back behind the bar—and the BBQ—felt like a proper homecoming.”

The evening also marked the official launch of Malthouse Craft Lager in cans—an exciting new chapter for one of Arkell’s most popular and awarded beers. Known for its crisp, refreshing character and brewed with local barley and Saaz hops, Malthouse (4.2% ABV) is now available in a can format for the very first time. Unlike many lagers, Arkell’s slow-ferment Malthouse for up to a month, creating a softer, cleaner flavour with a satisfying fullness in the mouth. After this, rather than pasteurising and cooking the aromas, they gently triple micro filter the beer to lock in the thirst-quenching flavour.

Alex Arkell, Head Brewer at Arkell’s, said:

“We’re really proud of Malthouse—it’s one of our flagship beers, and it’s fantastic to see it go into cans. The flavour holds up beautifully, and it’s a perfect beer for moments just like this—chilled, outdoors, shared with good people. What makes this launch extra special is that it coincides with Indie Beer Week, which shines a light on the independent breweries up and down the country who are committed to making great beer, by hand, with real care. That’s what we’re all about.”

The cans proudly bear the INDIE BEER mark—a symbol of quality and independence that beer lovers can trust. This is the first Arkell’s product to highlight Indie Beer, but as new bottling runs take place all Arkell’s bottled beers will also highlight the campaign.

The launch event was held during the nationwide Indie Beer Week (11–20 April), a campaign led by SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) which aims to make the INDIE BEER mark the recognisable standard for high quality craft and cask beer, brewed across the UK, by truly independent breweries. Independent beer is handmade by real people who truly care about the quality and flavour of the beer they are producing. By choosing independent beer you're not only getting a great tasting pint, but supporting local business, protecting pubs, and making a more sustainable choice.

With pub locals able to meet the sixth-generation family brewer, Alex Arkell, at the launch, there was a perfect mix of warm food, cold beer and community spirit, which set the tone for a week all about showcasing what makes small, passionate breweries so special.

While The White Hart serves Malthouse on keg day-to-day, the can launch made for a fitting celebration—and the BBQ setting was perfect for cracking open something cold and refreshing.