Local Pub Awards

The Southport beer festival (details here) opens at 6.00 p.m. tomorrow and early in the evening, the CAMRA Southport & West Lancs Branch will be making its annual wards. These are:

The Heaton's Bridge, Scarisbrick

Licensees of Excellence

• Janice Brogden and Mike Litherland of the Derby Arms, Prescot Road, Aughton.
• Gail Heyes of the Guest House, Union Street, Southport.
• Mike McCombe of the Hop Vine, Liverpool Road North, Burscough.

Merit Awards

• Simon Cox & Steve Gregory of the Freshfield Hotel, Massams Lane, Freshfield.
• Leslie Baker of the Yew Tree, Grimshaw Lane, Ormskirk.

Best Newcomer

• Anna Gervasoni of the Ring O' Bells, Ring O' Bells Lane, Lathom.

Best Country Pub

• The Heaton's Bridge Inn, Heatons Bridge Road, Scarisbrick (licensee: Steve Winrow).

The Railway, Ormskirk

Best Community Pub

• The King's Arms, Delf Lane, Downholland (licensee: David Storer).

Best Bar Staff

• Ceri Evans of the Railway, Derby Street, Ormskirk.