A couple sheltering from the rain in a pub hatched a genius idea and now it could be yours

If you love wandering out into your garden or onto your balcony with a glass of wine on a warm summer's evening then meet Chris and Sharon Bannister because, unless you own a vineyard, they can go one better and help themselves to beer on tap from the microbrewery they have built in their garden.

This visionary couple have not only made their microbrewery dream a reality, they were ahead of the curve by restoring an abandoned Pembrokeshire school house into a stunning home long before the abundance of property renovation programmes appeared on our TV screens and this type of conversion became more commonplace.

It was the early 1980s and the couple met while working at an outdoor pursuits centre and, after chatting with Sharon's dad who was a geologist, they hatched a plan to open their own Pembrokeshire based field study trips - and so began the hunt for a suitable site.

See the latest Welsh homes on the market and more renovation stories, sign up to our newsletter here

READ MORE: Epic renovation of derelict Welsh barn that is now unrecognisable

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: This rare £1.3m renovation project has unbelievable views of a Welsh national park

Sharon says: "Chris’s immediate family all lived in the county so we started looking for a suitable building – thinking we could use their help to renovate what we found! Llawhaden School closed in 1977 and was actually where Chris’ grandmother was a pupil in the 1910s. We acquired it in 1988, the year our first child was born."

Not many people would even contemplate taking on a major conversions and renovation project that included changing the use and function of a former community building and creating a stunning home, at the same time as having a newborn baby on the scene, but this tenacious couple seem to be able to have the vision and drive to achieve their property dreams and life goals. See inside another epic school house conversion here.

"The school is outside the village of Llawhaden and has lovely countryside views which include Foel Eryr in the Preseli hills. We wanted to retain the soul of the place so materials were reused - all the floorboards were raised, cleaned, insulation laid underneath then replaced, or repurposed – an oak beam from our well is a door lintel. Furniture was sought for its aesthetic rather than monetary value, from auctions, made by Chris, or gifted to us. We used local tradespeople and our family helped too," says Sharon.

With any conversion and renovation project there are hurdles and challenges to overcome and the couple list some of them as dealing with the inevitable red tape that comes with a project such as the school house conversion and having to labour all hours of the day, night and weekends to keep moving the project forward.

But, eventually, the site was ready, Sharon says, adding: "The school received our first group, on a geology field trip, in November, 1988. We hosted some very memorable groups and schools over the years and our three children loved the weekly change of playmates."

But sometimes plans change and the route your life is taking swerves into another direction you maybe weren't expecting. Sharon explains: "In 2012, on a wet dismal day sheltering in a pub in north Wales the seed of an idea was sown to run a microbrewery. Needless to say everyone we told loved the idea and were more than willing to be tasters!"

Sharon continues: "After a great deal more red tape and more labouring we converted what was the shower block of the outdoor centre, and the brewery was opened for business in May, 2013. Its name was Caffle Brewery, inspired by Chris’s grandmother who had a good knowledge and use of the Pembrokeshire dialect."

Over the years the couple's brewery has developed more than a dozen beers using this local dialect with examples including Drop Squint, In the Grip, Catchypole. Sharon adds: "Our Green Hop Ale was made using hops we and members of our Hop co-op grew so was pretty special and very local. Being local was a key ingredient of the business, we only supplied beer within a 30 mile radius, thereby aiming to keep beer miles as low as possible."

Of course, the main advantage of having a microbrewery in your garden is having beer on tap - the parties have never been drunk dry, but the couple say they have also really enjoyed meeting new people at events, welcoming visitors to the brewery and scenic delivery routes though Pembrokeshire that have all created lifelong memories they will take with them now they are moving on.

Sharon says: "Ten years on, appreciating running a microbrewery is a very physical business and not getting any younger, we decided it was time to partially retire." So now a dream home and a dream business is looking for its dream new owner. Buying a house with all the infrastructure in place to either privately brew or establish your own microbrewery is a rare and exciting opportunity that will captivate so many potential buyers, but the home that comes with the brewery is enchanting too.

READ MORE: Inside the house priced the same as a takeaway pizza

READ MORE: Award-winning contemporary house in a pretty rural village for sale for first time ever

The lucky new owners of The School House will be picking up the keys to a truly unique home that is not just a standout property because of its brewery and offer of beer on tap.

Nestled into the glorious Pembrokeshire landscape with panoramic views that will take your breath away and yet driving distance to the market town of Narberth, The Old School House comes with around two-acres of garden that includes over 300 trees, outbuildings, workshop and surprise two-bed annexe hiding behind the brewery.

The idyllic garden is a sanctuary for birds and wildlife as well as a tranquil and relaxing slice of this popular county to find peace and privacy - as well as host the best parties with the brewery, of course, at the core of the activities.

Inside, The Old School House is a character-packed home full of tasteful and timeless décor inspired by the tones and colours of the landscape that cocoons the house, as well as influenced by the features that have been preserved and revived, such as exposed stone walls, stripped floors, and sanded ceiling beams and roof rafters.

There are elements of modern accents, such as the free-standing, wooden units in the kitchen showcasing metal handles and sheets of metal on the island unit, but the core of the design is classic - roll-top baths, vintage furniture, and layers of tactile, textured and natural materials and fabrics.

In total, the main house has four bedrooms, with the ground floor slumber space happily offering its services as a home office as an alternative, a huge reception room that was once the main school hall, kitchen breakfast room with pantry, separate dining room, and three bathrooms, two of which are on the ground floor.

Sharon is sad to be leaving the school house and the brewery but excited to explore what happens next for the couple, saying: "We have loved living here; bringing up a family in plenty of space and aiming to run small sustainable businesses. It will be a wrench to leave but the building needs another chapter – a new family to make it theirs."

The Old School House and its micro brewery is on the market with Luxury Welsh Homes for £800,000. Call 01834 818076 to find out more.

For more property and renovation stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here.

Find your own unique conversion project here: