private events

Long before The Hawthorn opened its doors to laughter, toasts, and candlelit dinners, it stood as part of the legendary Frank Jones Brewery—once one of the largest ale producers in the country. In the late 1800s, this industrious complex was the beating heart of Portsmouth’s economy, stretching across more than 10 acres and employing hundreds. Our building, known then as the Scald House, played a unique role: it was here that scalding hot rocks were used to sterilize oak barrels—a brutal task that kept the brewery’s ale pure and its reputation strong. Today, the heat and steam have been replaced by warmth of another kind. The Scald House has been reimagined as The Hawthorn, a space that honors its past while welcoming a new era of gathering. The original architecture remains and the brick walls whisper stories of grit, craftsmanship, and community. Where workers once prepared barrels for ale bound across the country, we now host milestone moments such as weddings, birthdays, Bar and Bat Mitzvah’s, and celebrations of life—memories no less significant, and every bit as enduring.