BEER-CATIONS

The Bowland Beer Hall recently scooped CAMRA’s award for Britain’s best pub conversion and the East Lancashire CAMRA pub of the year, putting Clitheroe on the beer map.

With an award-winning pub, award-winning brewery and the brand new Spinning Block Hotel all on one site taking a short break ‘that’s all about the beer’ otherwise known as a Beer-cation, has never been more apt.

In the Bowlnd Beer Hall original beams and joists, exposed brickwork and even the original mill wheel have all been preserved in an innovative venue that combines a Bavarian-scale beer hall with a brewery, restaurant, food hall and hotel.

In its first year of trading, the beer hall sold more than half a million pints of real ale and craft beer and a trip to Holmes Mill has now become something of pilgrimage for real ale aficionados across the North.

With 42 hand-pull pumps on the 105ft 8” long island bar – one of the longest in Britain – the beer hall showcases a minimum of 24 cask ales at any one time.

Six core Bowland Ales from the brewery next door are a permanent fixture on the bar, but the rest change on a weekly basis. Casks are tapped on a Wednesday and ready to pour on #NewBeerThursday – something of a regular feature among local ale enthusiasts.

Discounts for Bowland Beer Club members. Membership is free just as at the bar for details.

Whatever remains after the weekend is promoted on ‘Drink it Dry’ to make way for the new intake on Wednesday – ensuring all the cask ales remain in perfect condition.

A number of ‘Beer Bibles’ listing all the available beers along with tasting notes are strategically placed on the bar and the knowledgeable staff are happy to advise on tastes and styles and offer free samples.

Three-glass tasting flights are a popular way for drinkers to sample multiple beers and Holmes Mill also offers a ‘Circumnavigation’ ticket, which offers a pint, half-pint or third-pint glass of every cask beer on the bar.

There’s no obligation to sink all 24 ales at one sitting – creating the perfect excuse to make a stay of it. Overnighters can combine a tasting session in the beer hall with a brewery tour, a spot of fine food shopping at the neighbouring.

Bowland Food Hall and a good night’s sleep at the Spinning Block Hotel – which is also on the Holmes Mill site.

The Spinning Block Hotel & Bistro: 01200 407 111
Beer Hall dining reservations: 01200 401 035
Brewery Tours every Wednesday, Thursday & Friday at 3pm. Bookings 01200 443 592