A LAKES country pub is trying an American food trend that is taking off in London.

The General Burgoyne in Great Urswick, near Ulverston, is joining trend setters like Bar Boulud in Knightsbridge and Dirty Burger in Vauxhall by matching ground-breaking burger creations with imported craft beers.

Food experts say gourmet burgers like those served at the Shake Shack in New York are set to be a dining out phenomenon in 2014.

Robinsons brewery is backing Burgoyne head chef Craig Sherrington at a ticket-only event in the pub's Tarn View Suite, introducing the creations to Cumbrian palates.

Mr Sherrington said: "There will be different styles of beer from all over the world and I'll be preparing different burgers to go with each one.

"It's similar to the wine tasting evenings we've done, which have been really successful.

"We're hoping to show you can match a good beer with good food.

"The idea is from America and the burgers are called sliders."

The gourmet burger night on Saturday, February 8, will offer six 'taster' burgers and six 'thirds' of craft beer for £20-a-head.

Beer importer James Clay, from Yorkshire, will talk about the different brews, which come from places as diverse as Belgium and Chicago.

The beers are available to all Robinsons pubs. It's hoped the Burgoyne's renowned chef will demonstrate how they can be enjoyed with food.

The chef said: "I'm looking forward to it. I'll be doing six completely different burgers, like nothing people have tasted before.

"I'll be using beef, pork and lamb and there'll be a sweet burger in there as well."