A lager and ale brewery based on a Suffolk farm is raising a glass to its second pub acquisition.

Calvors Brewery, which opened its first successful pub, The Rampant Horse Inn at Needham Market in February 2012, has now acquired The Swan at Holbrook, on the Shotley Peninsula.

The brewery, based at Coddenham Green, near Ipswich, started out brewing English lager before branching out into craft ale.

Banking group NatWest is funding the firm’s growth, enabling it to expand its brand and its portfolio across the county.

The Swan, which lies five miles from Ipswich, will reopen at the end of March in time for Easter weekend.

It will be serving a range of craft lagers and ales from Calvors Brewery, alongside other local guest ales. Around four new jobs will be created, with recruitment already under way for front of house and kitchen staff.

Calvors was founded in 2008 by Alec Williamson on his family farm in Coddenham Green.

His aim was to create real English lagers brewed using traditional methods and local ingredients. A small brewery was later added to enable experimentation and capacity to increase his range of ales. The range now includes four lagers and five ales packed into kegs, bottles and casks on site.

“Thanks to the increasing popularity of craft beers, the quality of the lagers and ales we produce and the support of our staff, the Calvors brand has continued to grow,” said Alec.

“Acquiring our first pub in 2012 was a significant milestone for us and we hope to replicate the success we’ve had with The Rampant Horse at The Swan at Holbrook.

“Village pubs are rapidly in decline, and protecting pubs like The Swan from permanent closure is something that we are passionate about. Thanks to the support from NatWest we are able to help transform such pubs, take them back to their former glory and create a lasting positive impact on the local communities they serve.”

Frank Moss, agricultural relationship manager at NatWest, said: “NatWest has worked with Calvors Brewery since last year and seen the brand go from strength to strength. We are pleased that the funding will support the continued expansion of a very successful local business.”