TWO old school-friends who opened a town’s first micropub, have made it into the 2020 CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

Chris Armer and Graham Roberts, both from Darwen, opened the Brig N Barrel in Bamber Bridge in June 2018.

But just over a year later, neither of them had dreamed they’d ever make it into such a prestigious guide. And now they are setting their sights on opening a bar in their home town or Blackburn.

Mr Armer, who works in the manufacturing industry said: “This really is the icing on the cake.

“When my childhood friend Graham and I first made the decision to risk everything and open a micro pub in a disused television shop in Bamber Bridge, we never dreamed that just over a year later we’d be recognised by CAMRA for our hard work.”

The micropub, in Station Road, Bamber Bridge, offers a range of real ales, lagers, ciders and gins, focusing on sourcing locally and prioritising quality over big name breweries.

It has a reputation for a friendly atmosphere, monthly comedy nights and regular live music nights, and also offers a can and bottle shop so punters can buy quality beers to take home.

Mr Roberts, who works in project management said: “When we first opened business was booming and we had to make sure we kept it that way so we introduced live music and comedy nights.

“None of us had worked behind a bar before or run our own business so we were completely new to it and had to learn as we went along.

“Being Darwen lads, we have plans to open a micropub in Darwen or Blackburn if the right place comes available at the right price, but we’ve nothing set in stone just yet.

“Also, we work a lot with local breweries like Hopstar and Threes B’s and get plenty of live music acts performing from Darwen such as Gary Ward, Poppy Holiday and Ang Fire.”