A DARWEN pub has been named the winner of the inaugural Cider Pub of the Year award from the local Campaign for Real Ale branch.

Number 39 Hopstar Brewery Tap in Bridge Street was handed the prize - the first of its kind ever awarded by East Lancashire Camra.

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The pub, owned by Barry Tyson who set up the Hopstar microbrewery in his garage more than a decade ago, has expanded its offering to include real ciders, including those made by Dove Syke Cider in West Bradford.

And it beat a number of local hostelries to the award, including national pub of the year the Swan With Two Necks in the Ribble Valley.

Mr Tyson said: "We try to do a little bit of everything for people who like a choice and that is why we went down the cider route.

"We normally have up to five ciders on at any one time, with two on cask and a few in bottles.

"We also have a cider and cheese Sunday every weekend from 2pm, where we put some cheese and crackers out and people can enjoy a bit with a pint of cider.

"I have found a lot of people come in for a bit of an aperitif before going home for their Sunday dinner."

More cider producers are springing up across the North West, with Red Bank Cider in Bolton also regularly supplying the pub.

Mr Tyson said he believed real cider was on the rise.

He said: "We are seeing a bit of a resurgence and I think people just like to try something different.

"I often switch from beer to cider on a Sunday.

"It is definitely on the up and it is worth us having on.

"I like to promote the real ciders rather than the artificial headbanging stuff you get in a lot of pubs.

"People try our ciders and say, 'oh, it tastes of apple', and that is the whole point!"

A spokesman for East Lancashire Camra said: "The continental style bar, famed for its cask and bottled ales offers a varied range of ciders and perries, often featuring the local offering Ribble valley Gold.

"The regular cider and cheese Sundays have proved a great hit and it is the enthusiastic promoting of events like this, in an area not known for cider drinking, that swayed the judges.

"The pub now goes forward to the regional competition alongside pubs from across the North West.

"The plethora of specialist beer and cider bars appearing throughout East Lancashire mean that next year’s competition will be even keener and the cider drinkers in the branch are looking forward to the challenge of selecting the 2015 winner next Autumn."