A BRIT Award winning band is to swap festival headline slots for a gig at Britain's highest pub when it becomes the latest chart-topping act to play Tan Hill.

Scouting for Girls will appear at the Yorkshire Dales pub near Reeth on November 13 for a one-off performance in aid of Children in Need.

But anyone wanting to see the band, which has sold more than two million records worldwide, will have to move quickly with only a handful of tickets left for the intimate gig.

Landlord Steve Bailey invited the band to play when they visited on their way to a concert in Scotland.

Lead singer Roy Stride wanted to visit the pub after reading The Inn at the Top, a book written by Neil Hanson recounting his experiences of running the pub in the 1980s.

Mr Bailey said the band stayed the night and he got talking to them over breakfast.

"Roy had read the book and he wanted to come and see it for himself.

"We got chatting and they thought a charity gig was a great idea.

"We've limited it to 180 people so it will be a really intimate gig and I'm sure the band will have a drink in the bar afterwards and talk to fans.

"It's going to be a fantastic night - the band even offered to stay in the bunkbarn rather than take up the bed and breakfast rooms."

Mr Bailey and wife Viv moved into Tan Hill in February, with former landlady Tracy Daly still having an financial interest in the pub but now living in the south of the country.

The couple, formerly from Darlington, say running Tan Hill is a challenge, but one they are enjoying.

"It's hard work and we've got our first full winter coming up but it's a real adventure for us," said Mr Bailey.

Scouting for Girls are not the first chart-topping band to perform at Tan Hill.

The Arctic Monkeys, Marc Ronson, The Levellers, and British Sea Power have all played at the pub in the past.

The event is ticket only, with tickets costing £60 available by calling 01833-628246.