THE owners of a micropub which opened this week in Rainhill are setting out with the grand ambition to steam into next year's Good Beer guide.

Giving a nod to the area's heritage and taking its name from a railway structure which is thought to be a world first, The Skew Bridge Alehouse opened on Monday (September 26) in Dane Court.

The pub, which brings a former community police office in a shopping parade back into use, will serve real ales and ciders and the owners say the emphasis will very much be on quality ales and good conversation.

Owners Phil Speakman, 48, and his fiancee Amanda McFadyen, say there will be no food served, no televised sport and no music.

Phil told the Star: "The idea is simple - we're a small pub serving predominantly real ales and ciders.

"There are six hand-pulls with an ever-changing number of real ales and ciders.

"We'll also have a small selection of wines and spirits, but it's all about the ales. We'll be sourcing our beers from all over the UK.

"There will be no Sky Sport and no jukebox. We want people to come in and talk to each other - conversation is all we need."

He added they hope to be included in CAMRA's (Campaign for Real Ale) Good Beer guide in 12 months' time.

He said: "We are very close to the Skew Bridge - just yards away from it. Hopefully we'll help put it back on the map.

"When people think of Rainhill they think of the Rocket and the Rainhill Trials - no-one really thinks of the bridge. It's an unused name which was begging to be used and recognised!"

The Skew Bridge, which crosses the railway line at an angle, is believed to be the first of its kind and is part of the original infrastructure of the Liverpool to Manchester line designed by George Stephenson.

The Skew Bridge will open from 4 to 11pm on weekdays and longer at weekends.

For more details visit skewbridge.co.uk.