POACHERS, the new, public company set up by former Heineken Ireland boss Gerry Van Soest to raise more than £4 million to set up a small brewery in Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath, opposite the Locke's distillery, seems to be doing well with its fund raising.

Poachers plans to brew Poachers Black - a stout with more alcohol than other black brews - and also Poachers Red. This latter concoction is described as a continental style ale rather an English style ale. Good move that, flat and warm bitter isn't really to the Irish taste.

Gerry Van Soest will be running Poachers on a salary of £50,000 a year, the Poachers prospectus reveals - a modest enough salary for a start up business.