Beer experts at CAMRA have crowned the re-born New Inn at Denholme as Bradford district’s Pub of the Season due to its fine ale and true family atmosphere.

Owned by Sean and Kirsty Garvey, who live in the detached stone pub with their five children, the New Inn has been resurrected from being a down-at-heel boozer on the brink of closure.

“It was a failed pub with rotten doors, broken windows, no pictures, nothing working and destined to be destroyed,” said Sean, 43.

“But it still had support from locals and Kirsty and I were convinced we could make a go of it.”

They bought the New Inn four years ago and since then have built up the pub’s reputation, as well as adding a new extension.

“We saved bit by bit to do repairs and improvements and now the New Inn has been fully refurbished with a new extension to give the good people of Denholme a place to relax and socialise,” said Sean, who now also runs Dirty Dick’s Alehouse in Halifax town centre.

Kirsty said they had concentrated on giving the pub a traditional family feel.

“It’s just old fashioned values really. We have no food, machines or televisions.

”Our aim was for a place where the community can come in for high-quality real ale and good conversation,” said Kirsty, also 43.

They support local brewers including Salamander, Saltaire and Old Spot.

Bradford CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) pub officer Andrew Heyes said it was a winning recipe.

“The quality of beer is fantastic and the New Inn really is a lovely, homely pub.

“I went to the pub before Sean and Kirsty took it over and it was in a neglected and sorry state.

“I thought, ‘oh no, here’s another one going down’,” Mr Heyes said.

“But now it has been brought back to life and deserved to be our Pub of the Season.

“It really is a welcoming public house run by people who live there and who make you feel properly at home,” he said.