A CUMBRIAN business is celebrating after being awarded the UK's best independent craft beer pub in a rural area.

The Royal Barn in Kirkby Lonsdale won the title at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) Beer Business Awards presented on Wednesday (March 13) at BeerX UK in Liverpool.

The SIBA Business Awards are judged by a panel of independent beer industry experts and are organised by the not-for-profit trade association the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates. The awards cover everything from brewery marketing, design and innovation, to efforts to make businesses more sustainable or impactful. 

The Kirkby Lonsdale business went up against two other breweries, Baileyhead in Oswestry and Vocation & Co. in Hebden Bridge.

One of the directors Stuart Taylor said: "It was a tough category. There were a couple of really good bars in there so it was a privilege to win that award.

"This award is a reward for all the hard work the staff put in and everything that we do. We are always trying to think of different ideas and innovate in different ways and keep it interesting for all the customers.

"We really believe that we are putting Kirkby on the map and it is proven by the people that are travelling and tell us where they come from to come and visit us for the day. For Cumbria, it is also amazing as it just adds to a number of already brilliant outlets and bars that we have already got in the county."

The Royal Barn opened its doors to the public in 2016 boasting 12 handpulls on the bar of Kirkby Lonsdale brewery beers and 10 keg taps along with an extensive collection of wines and spirits along with their own Kirkby Lonsdale gins, rums and vodka.

The business also offers food with breakfast, lunch and evening menus.