A POPULAR beer maker will be increasing production by 300% when it moves to a new brewery.

Dark Star, which has produced several award-winning tipples, is relocating to a 16,000sqft site in Partridge Green, about 11 miles west of its current premises in Haywards Heath.

It is the company’s third move in eight years, having started life in the cellar of the Evening Star pub in Brighton in 1996.

Dark Star director Paul Reed said: “This is the biggest investment we’ve made to date and, despite the current economic climate, it reflects our confidence in the longterm development of the real ale market.

“We consider ourselves lucky to be located among some of the best pubs in the country and competing with other great brewers. For that reason, we’ve chosen to stay in the heart of Sussex.”