REAL ale drinkers have chosen one of Skipton’s best-known town centre hostelries as their ‘Community Pub of the Year.’

Members of the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Keighley and Craven branch praised licensees of The Albion, in Otley Street, Sera and Andrew Brook, for their “care and concern for every single one of their customers” and for their willingness to get involved in all aspects of community life.

Explaining the reasons for choosing the Albion, a statement from the CAMRA judges said: “One of the disadvantages of being in a town is that you can’t just inherit a community like a village - you have to build one.

“ Sera and Andrew are doing just that. By its nature a pub’s community is going to be primarily its locals. At the Albion, they know their locals and their idiosyncrasies, but more than just what they drink - also concern for their regulars.

“When an old regular hasn’t been in for some time it’s noted and they check whether anybody else has seen them about.

“They also started a petition to keep a local bowling green open that was threatened with closure and still support the bowls club.

“There are numerous other community acts the Albion is involved in. The Albion is a good solid no- nonsense town pub. It’s not bristling with real ales and walls of pump clips but two regular beers plus two guests.

“Sera and Andrew have put a lot of work into the pub since they took it on, doing much of the work themselves. The most obvious of which is the outside drinking area, they have turned a serviceable yard into a pleasant outside area to sit out in - which shows pride and commitment.”

Sera said that she and Andrew, and all the staff at the pub, were “incredibly proud” to be given the award.

“We work hard to be a community pub and care very deeply for all our regulars. Our mantra is “come as a customer, leave as a friend,” she said.

The CAMRA judges also pointed out that Sera was chair of Skipton Town Against Night-time Disorder - and had also co-ordinated the school leavers’ ‘end of year’ pub crawl, while the Albion sponsors the local cricket team - and supplies the teas!