The award is in recognition of the pub's imaginative promotion of real ales, particularly through festivals which showcase local and regional brewers.

The pub is part of the JD Wetherspoon group, but recent beer festivals have been the idea of the local management team and have been staged independently of the national chain.

One featured the beers of Morecambe brewer Bryson's, another pale and golden ales from breweries in Lancashire and Cumbria.

Green Ayre manager Stuart Blackburn said that winning the award was "phenomenal – a great honour," and put the pub's success down to team effort.

"We also asked customers what they wanted and have listened to ideas from the local CAMRA people."

The pub's most ambitious promotion is set to take place in September when a festival with a cricketing theme will be held.

The event – in aid of CLIC, the charity for children with leukaemia – will feature beer favourites from the major cricketing counties with, it is hoped, a big name from the sport making an appearance.