Latest Branch News Tap Takeovers Our latest addition to pubs that serve cask ale, The White Lion in Barrow, is having some 'Tap Takeovers' in 2026. Tuesday 28th February, they will be welcoming Lancaster Brewery The event will feature a range of beers from the Brewery and The White Lion will no doubt be planning more Tap Takeovers in the future following the success of the previous Logan Beck and Timothy Taylor events earlier in the year. Pubs on the ways back (hopefully) Wonderful news that Broughton-based CGP has added The Black Cock in Broughton to their portfolio which also includes The Greyhound in Grizebeck and The Prince of Wales, Foxfield. The Black Cock has been refurbished and is now open while The Prince will take a bit more work but there are ambitious plans to make it a major venue with not only the return of the pub but to include a new brewery and buildings together with a car park for the adjacent rail station. Early days yet as there is much to organise and carry out the plans and some patience may be necessary before The Prince actually returns but it look like it is going to be a ‘must visit’ location when it does Local Breweries in National/Regional Competitions Regions in the North West are Cumbria, Cheshire, Mersyside, Lancashire and Greater Manchester Townhouse Brewery from Dalton picked up a Bronze award for their Meg's Mild at the Stockport Beer Festival in June 2024. (The judges do not know what the beers are as it is a 'blind tasting'.) Now that the old West Pennines Region has disappeared to be replaced by a larger North West Region, we have (regionally) many more breweries to look at so here are the other winners: 'Rock the Boat (Sittin' on) the Dock from Mersyside was awarded Gold and Bank Top Brewery from Greater Manchester picked up the Silver for their Dark Mild. Ulverston Brewery Laughing Gravy picked up the Silver award for Session Bitters at the Liverpool Beer Festival. Previous (2023) winners from the region These beers were recognised in the Champion Beer of Britain (North West) competitions: Barngates Tag Lag, Coniston Brewery No.9 Barley Wine and Thurstein Pilnsner, Cumbrian Ales Vanilla Oatmeal Stout, Logan Beck Proper.
