VILLAGERS are gearing up for a big party on Sunday to celebrate a landlord and landlady's 30 years behind the bar of a multi-award winning pub.

Steve and Christine Dilworth arrived at the Swan with Two Necks in Pendleton on August 25, 1987 after four years at The Falcon in Burnley Town Centre.

The first things they did was introduce real ale to the single hand pump in the bar.

Since then Steve, now 63, has spent his time making the pub’s famous pies and talking to the real ale casks in the cellar earning him the nickname ‘The Beer Whisperer’.

This gained the pub a string of Campaign for Real Ale awards including National Pub of the year in 2014.

Christine has taken the successful job of talking to the growing number of customers in the bar.

The couple bought the pub outright in 1998 for less than £150,000.

Steve said: “That has turned out to be a real bargain.

“When we decided to seek our own tenancy in 1987 we looked at pubs all over Britain but fell in love with The Swan at first sight.

“We have had a fantastic time broadening the food menu with pies, clearing up the beer garden and being part of this fabulous community, even running the Post Office for 13 years.

“We have deliberately kept it traditional and at the heart of the village.”

Now their sons Robert, 31, and Michael, 28, work in the business with a view to taking on the family tradition.

Next door neighbour and regular Ribble Valley MP, Nigel Evans, said: “This is a great pub and Steve and Christine had done a great job running it.”

Lancashire Telegraph real ale columnist Mark Briggs said: “It’s a remarkable achievement to spend 30 years at the same pub. The Swan is a quintessential English village pub and Steve and Christine keep the ale in superb condition.”

Notable events include persuading the the local vicar Roland Nicholson to dress up as a white swan in tutu and hosting the press conference in 2013 after Mr Evans was arrested for sexual offences of which he was later acquitted in court.