Seven East Lancashire pubs and three breweries are delighted after being named in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2023.
The Black Bull in Old Langho, Bird in th’ Hand in Darwen, Beer Shack in Clitheroe, 1B-Tap in Great Harwood, Bridge Bier Huis in Burnley, the Canine Club in Accrington and the Royal Arms in Tockholes have all been accolated in the guide.
BB18 brewery in Earby, 4 Mice Brewery in Forrest of Bowland and 12 Steps Brewery in Darwen were also named in the guide.
John Connelly has been running the Bird in th' Hand on Duckworth Street, Darwen, for nearly four years.
The pub is also the site of another CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2023 brewery, 12 steps.
Speaking of the accolade, he said: “I’m really pleased. Everyone is coming in and drinking good beer.
“It’s great that despite difficulties, everyone is still coming in and I am doing what I can to keep good beers on.”
He runs the pub alongside four members of staff.
Sam and Rob Omerod who own and run the Beer Shack in Clitheroe are elated by the achievement.
Sam said: “We are very happy. It’s a huge accolade we are only a small business there's only the two of us and our staff team.
“We have built the place up from scratch. It’s wonderful to get such a great reward for our hard work.”
The couple built the pub, on King Street, from the ground up, with it being a lady's clothing store before.
They opened in September 2020, a difficult time in the hospitality industry due to the strains of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Michael Eatough and Mike Eddleston opened 1B-Tap in Great Harwood in July 2016.
The pair have thanked their customers for helping them get to where they are today.
Speaking about the accolade, Michael said: “We're delighted to be one of the few bars in Lancashire to have made entry into the 2023 CAMRA Good Beer Guide, particularly as this year is the 50th anniversary of the Good Beer Guide.
“Being recommended by CAMRA members proves that all of the weekly hard work that 1B-Tap staff put into the business is being recognised by "Beer Experts" which continues to help us in providing quality beer for existing customers and also attracting many new customers.
“We get lots of new customers who say they have found us in the Good Beer Guide. So a big thank you to all of our customers over the last 7 years as we couldn't do it without you all.”
Robin and Ruth Tillbrook took over the Royal Arms in Tockholes in 2019.
During that time, Robin said they have transformed the pub into a weekend destination country pub and a spot for cyclists.
Robin said: “We are delighted to be included in this year's good beer guide.
“As a family-run business, our philosophy is to support as many local businesses as possible and this extends to our many cask ale producers who brew some wonderful beers”
The 4 Mice Brewery, based at the Coach and Horses in Bolton-by-Bowland, is a small brewery that caters for its pub.
The brewing is done in-house, with those drinking in the bar, dining in the restaurant or staying in the pub's accommodation able to enjoy a pint.
Ko Labeij, the owner of the pub and brewery, said: “We have a small brewery here. We brew every fortnight and we make two brews for our own bar. We have been brewing for six years now.
“Quite a lot of people ask if we can have it elsewhere but we are just not ready for any distribution yet.
“We suffer with space so we would have to find more space if we wanted to expand.
“The beer is received very well, people really like it, it’s good beer of course.”
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