A ROBERTTOWN pub which was only reopened five years ago has been named the Pub of the Year for 2016 by the local CAMRA branch.

The New Inn at Roberttown was bought in 2010 by couple Susan Walker and Andrew Kenyon and renovated before swiftly reopening.

They serve real ales and beers brewed onsite from their own micro-brewery and have recently started serving Sunday lunches.

Now they have been selected as the pub of the year for the second time in recent years by the Heavy Woollen Campaign for Real Ale branch.

Andy Kassube, chairman of the branch, presented the award to Miss Walker and Mr Kenyon.

He described the pub as being a "remarkable success" for the couple, saying it "has become one of the leading pubs in the area due to the hard work of the couple and the team that work with them".

The Roberttown Lane pub had been owned by Enterprise Inns and was closed down for a time before it was bought by the pair, who had been working in completely different industries - Mr Kenyon was an electrician and Miss Walker worked in accounts.

Since reopening in October 2010, a month after buying the pub, they have now won the Pub of the Year title twice, after first being successful in 2013. They have also been runner-up in the pub of the year twice and won the pub of the season award once.

Mr Kassube said: "The pub is an integral part of the community and runs its own beer festival once a year where it targets micro-breweries like itself, along with a number of charity events. As you walk in the spirit of community is felt as the village has taken the pub to its heart and you feel a real sense of community."

Miss Walker told the Telegraph & Argus: "We bought the pub and gave ourselves four weeks to refurbish and it was quite a major refurbishment. We opened in October 2010 and things have gone from strength to strength since then.

"It's very much a community pub and there is a real mixture of ages among the customers. It's a friendly place."

On winning the award she added: "It is good to have recognition from a respected organisation like CAMRA and a huge compliment that people who enjoy our pub and the good beers that we serve have taken the time and effort to vote for us."

She added that the pub's microbrewery, which was started in the cellar by Mr Kenyon and his dad, Joe, has gone on to produce award-winning beers, such as Bombay Bob and even brews an ale with rhubarb called Yorkshire Bob specially for Yorkshire Day.

In addition the Pub of the Year award, the CAMRA branch has also awarded its Club of the Year for 2016, to The Hanging Heaton Cricket Club in Batley. The certificate was presented to the club stewards, who took over three and a half years ago. They have gone from one hand-pulled ale that was not doing well, to selling more than 13 casks a week. The club now has more than 300 members as well.