A PUB that has won national recognition for its promotion of real ale is again the toast of local beer enthusiasts.

The Beamish Mary Inn, at No Place, near Stanley, County Durham, was voted pub of the year by the County Durham branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra).

Previous owner John Taylor turned the pub, which used to be called the Red Robin, into a mecca for discerning drinkers and enthusiasts of cask beers, creating atmosphere by furnishing it with artefacts from the area's mining past.

In 1994, the pub won Camra's national pub of the year title, and in 1999, it won the County Durham branch accolade.

Landlord Graham Ford is delighted with the latest honour.

He said: "We won it for the quality of the beer, the atmosphere and the character of the pub.

"It is good because the Pelaw Grange dog track at Birtley got the club of the year award, and that was down to me begging them to put real on."

The Beamish Mary has ten real ales on tap, including guests. It sells BSB, which is made by the Big Lamp Brewery for the pub, and Lamplight Bitter, which the brewery makes to Mr Ford's recipe. The pub also stages popular beer festivals featuring brews from across the country.

Mr Ford said that Mr Taylor, who now runs the pub at Beamish Museum, will launch a blues club, featuring live bands in the pub's Stable Bar on Thursday nights, in October.

He said: "We are putting together a CD, Live at the Beamish Mary, featuring tracks from some of the favourite bands that have played here over the years, such as TT Blue, Tubesnake and The Hipthrusters."