This most popular and friendly Accrington pub could certainly be described as a ‘hidden gem’ — tucked away from the main road in to the town — and standing proudly opposite Peel Park - the former ground of Accrington Stanley FC.

Ten years ago the pub was boarded-up, vandalised and been closed for a year — and looked in a sorry state on the Hyndburn landscape.

Thankfully, it was bought by Sue and David Johnson from Lancaster brewer Mitchell's — and they now boast one of the finest pubs in the area.

Sue, who has been in the trade for 40 years, explained: “The place had basically been trashed and left to deteriorate — but after lots of hard graft, it has risen from the ashes, so to speak, and we are now proud to serve the local community and beyond."

The hostelry boasts a spacious bar area and two other good-sized rooms, one of which leads to a large ground-floor function room — a room that opens out to a superb 'sun-trapped' beer garden.

The Peel Park has an excellent reputation for cask-conditioned beer and has six ales to choose from, priced at a very reasonable £2.50 a pint.

Tetley is permanently on and there is a fine range of five, ever-changing ales.

I sampled the Prospect 'Ore-some'. It was in great nick.

Sue said: " We get through 30 different ales a week — plenty of choice for our discerning customers."

Well, those discerning customers are certainly friendly.

One of the regulars, Barry, told me that Sky cricket pundit and former Lancashire and England batsman David Lloyd enjoys visiting the pub.

“He came in once with this reporter from the Guardian newspaper — it was to be a piece on the old Accrington Stanley photos that adorn the walls of the Peel Park.

“However, there was a problem. ‘Bumble, as he is affectionately known, had forgotten his reading specs and asked to borrow mine — it was so comical and was highlighted in the report."

That conversation typified this warm and welcoming pub. The staff, David, Steph and Lorraine could not have been more polite, affable and helpful. The Peel Park is a real hub of the community — a fine example of what is part of our social fabric . . . . the traditional British pub.