A DURHAM pub is celebrating a quarter century of being the toast of real ale fans.

The Half Moon, one of the city's last old-style watering holes, is holding a month-long beer festival to mark its 25th consecutive appearance in the Good Beer Guide produced annually by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra).

The festival starts on Saturday and during its course 25 hand-pump brews will be on sale, two at a time.

The Durham Brewery is joining the celebrations by brewing a special beer, Dark Side, for the festival and its other ales will also feature.

Landlord Keith Draper and his wife Pauline have run the Half Moon for most of the 25 years.

"We are really proud of our quarter of a century achievement and a beer festival seems the perfect way to celebrate.

"Having a beer brewed especially for the pub is the icing on the cake.

"It's a very smooth ale and I think it's going to be extremely popular."

Steve Gibbs, head brewer at The Durham Brewery, said: "We are very honoured to be asked to provide the festival beers.

"Our association with Keith and the Half Moon has lasted for almost all of our ten years and we are privileged to have our beers served in such excellent condition.

"Congratulations to Keith and Pauline for maintaining such high standards in this pub of special historic character."