A MICRO bar in Warrington Market has been named Pub of the Season just five months after opening.

The North Cheshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) handed its regional autumn award to The Real Ale Shack at a ceremony on Saturday.

Andy McKnight and Alison Ramsden opened the pub in May with an emphasis on supporting Warrington and Cheshire breweries.

The certificate was not just in recognition of the quality of the beer but also for having done something different or innovative.

Rupert Adams, North Cheshire branch secretary for CAMRA, said: "Opening The Real Ale Shack in the market was a bold move more akin to what you may expect to see in other parts of Europe especially Germany.

"It is certainly the type of bar we like to see encouraged in the development of Warrington town centre."

The Mayor of Warrington, Cllr Faisal Rashid, attended the ceremony along with Warrington Borough Council boss Peter Astley, who presented the award.

He added: "We are pleased to join CAMRA in congratulating The Real Ale Shack.

"I wish Andy and Alison continued success. With people visiting the market to support independent businesses and producers, they are a great example of how we can strive for excellence."

Opening The Real Ale Shack was a complete change of career for Andy, who was previously a thermal imaging engineer.

He got fed up of the long commutes to London and got the idea for the resting spot for shoppers after helping out Steve Simms, who runs Great Ale at the Market at Bolton Market.

In the long term, Andy hopes that the pub can move to Bridge Street in 2019 when Warrington Market relocates to the former Boots unit as part of the town centre's regeneration.

He said: "Alison and I are absolutely over the moon at receiving our award in such a short time and would like to thank our friends, customers and CAMRA members alike.

"We are excited to see what the future holds for The Real Ale Shack in the regeneration of the Warrington town centre, and a big thank you goes to the mayor and other council officials that made time to attend the award ceremony."

- The Real Ale Shack is open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am to 5pm and can be found between PJ's Jewellers and Paul's Homewares