Founded in 1980 by Mike and Carola Brown, Ballards Brewery was a pioneering West Sussex microbrewery. Starting in a Trotton cow shed, it moved to an Elsted pub before settling at Nyewood in 1988. Famous for real ales, the brewery operated for 38 years until closing upon retirement in 2018.

Since closure some beers were brewed at the Greyhound Brewery, who bought the recipe and brand rights..