HOTEL bosses have taken the phrase 'ale and hearty' fare seriously with the launch of their new beer-infused menu.

Gerardo Souto, general manager of the Holiday Inn Express in Burnley, is sure that his link-up with local brewery Moorhouse's will cheer guests at the Pendle Way venue.

His chef Lee Hourihan has devised a mouthwatering selection, from the traditional beer-battered haddock and steak and ale pie, to the more daring beer and cheese soup, Mexican chilli infused with Moorhouse's favourites and peanut butter and ale jelly cheesecake.

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Mr Souto said: "We recognise the growing trend for real ales and how people are enjoying beer with their food. We thought it would be good to introduce a very different kind of menu of the month, reflecting our link with the famous Moorhouse’s name.

"We already sell their bottled beers but the joy of real ale is now available alongside the special dishes created by our chef."

Hotel staff will also be pulling pints of the Brush Street brewery's cask ales as part of the deal.

Mr Souto added: "Our team was invited to Moorhouse’s brewery for training in how to handle and serve the ale as well as a full brewery tour. I have to say they all enjoyed the experience and we cannot wait to showcase this new food and drink offering on Tuesday.”

David Grant, managing director of Moorhouse's, said: "We have been trading with the Holiday Inn Express since it first opened. We use the hotel for our business guests, it is so close to our brewery and we have been supplying our bottled beers into the hotel bar for sometime. This new food and ale menu is a great way to introduce the cask ale.

"The idea of matching beer with food is becoming more popular as people realise it is not only wine that goes well with different foods. The beer-inspired menu looks fantastic."

Moorhouse's Winter Looms, described as a session beer with herb and floral notes and a spicy molasses chocolate finish, is being offered as the cask ale at the hotel.