REAL-ALE buffs have named a pub the most improved in the area.

CAMRA officials went along to the Red Lion, Silsden, to present the award to landlord and owner Luke Reid.

Richard Candeland, pubs officer for the Keighley and Craven branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, handed the award to Luke.

Luke, assisted by partner Megan Davies and his parents Paul and Julie, took over the Red Lion when it re-opened following a refurbishment on August bank holiday last year. Luke’s brother was the builder for the work.

Camra spokesman said: “Under Luke’s hand, what was a struggling pub has been transformed into a vibrant community venue serving four real ales in consistently good condition.”

The Most Improved Pub award is presented only occasionally, and was last awarded to a pub by the branch in September 2014.

According to Silsden Local History Group, the Red Lion was built initially as a simple beer shop in the early 1700s.

During the 19th century the pub was run by the Weatherhead family, after whom a Silsden street was named, and the premises became a centre of musical and educational enterprise.

The last member of the family to run the inn was Herbert Weatherhead, who died in 1929.