A PUB which reopened six months ago after an extensive renovation has received an award from the local Campaign for Real Ale.

The Rose & Crown, in Westgate, Cleckheaton, was taken over by Andy Gascoigne, the man behind Haworth Steam Brewery. As well as the 18-month long renovation of the pub, the firm's micro-brewery was relocated to a building at the back of the pub, having outgrown the Haworth site.

The new-look pub opened mid-September serving real ale from Yorkshire micro-brewers and the Haworth Steam Brewery ales too - including a new Whitechapel brand marking the Cleckheaton move.

Six months on and Mr Gascoigne and his wife Mandy, who is in charge of the food being served at the pub, have picked up a "pub of the season" award from the Heavy Woollen branch of CAMRA.

Andy Kassube, chairman of the CAMRA branch said: "As a branch Heavy Woollen are delighted at the rebirth of the Rose and Crown as it was a regular in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide up until 1991. The success it is now enjoying is testament to the hard work that the Gascoigne family and their staff are putting in and we look forward to the continued rise from the ashes for this pub."

Mr Gascoigne was delighted at the award - a first for the pub, but also a first for him.

"I think this is the first award I've ever won," he said. "Not bad for a pub that was closed for 18 months and has only been reopened for six months.

"We're very happy with the award - it shows the investment we've made has been worth it."

He added that the brewing operation at the pub was going from strength to strength, with the recent purchase of two new fermenters due to to demand. This means they can double the amount of beer brewed onsite in an effort to have two of their beers on tap in the pub at any one time.

He also said that they were looking to build a new section at the back of the pub which would allow customers to view the brewery operation in the back yard through a glass screen without going outside.

Mr Kassube added: "The pub has quickly grown an excellent reputation for real ale over the last six months and Andy has attempted to have six real ales available at all times which he will try to make sure some of his beers are available. The rest of the beers will showcase beers from Yorkshire as he is a very proud Yorkshireman who is keen to support other breweries in the county.

"The pub has quickly established itself at the heart of the community and is very much a pub where people are encouraged to sit and talk as there is no jukebox or sports channels."