A CLUB has been celebrating being honoured by the St Helens and Districts Campaign for Real Ale.

Haydock Reading Room has been crowned Club of the Year for 2023.

The club put on a special band night on Saturday, April 29 featuring local band Jukebox Duo.

They invited locals and CAMRA members along to help them celebrate.

Steward at Haydock Reading Room, Nigel Arnold said: “I’m absolutely over the moon with this award and to see the club so packed to help us celebrate was amazing.

“The support I’ve had from St Helens and Districts CAMRA and from the members here drinking the cask ale is brilliant. I'd like to thank all our members and our staff for helping us win this award."

The Reading Room beat off stiff competition from across the borough to be voted the best club for real ale by St Helens and Districts CAMRA members. Any club that meets the criteria set out by CAMRA nationally, can be included in the competition.

Six clubs across the borough were up for the accolade this year and Haydock Reading Room came out top, beating last year’s winner Prescot Reform Club.

Others in the competition were Prescot Cables Football Club, Rainford Labour Club, Rainhill Recreation Club and West Park RFC.

Ian Pye, pubs officer for St Helens and District CAMRA said: “Well done to Haydock Reading Room for winning the award this year, it was very well deserved.

“They have made great strides in providing their members with quality cask ales and have LocAle status, which means they always source at least one of their ales from local breweries – supporting and promoting other local business."

 Haydock Reading Room will now go forward to the Merseyside Club of the Year competition.