APPLETON Thorn Village Hall has won national recognition for its ever-changing selection of beers.

The community building saw off competition from around 30,000 nominees to be named National Club of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

It was recognised for its beer quality and temperature, friendliness of service, atmosphere and cleanliness.

The Appleton club is open four nights a week from Thursday to Sunday as well as Sunday lunchtime and offers members a choice of seven types of beer from regional and micro-breweries, which are changed weekly.

For two years running, the Appleton hall has won CAMRA Branch Club of the Year and CAMRA Regional Club of the Year but this is the first time licensees and husband and wife team Derek and Alison Massey have secured national acclaim.

Derek said: “This one was the big one and to be at the top is a wonderful achievement.”

Derek and Alison are not sure who recommended them but assume it must have been a village hall member.

Once they were nominated, a CAMRA member came to sample some of the ales — without making his presence known — and reported back to the group’s national executive committee.

Appleton Thorn Village Hall, a former school, has been at the heart of community life for 26 years and regularly holds events such as live music and the very popular annual beer festival.

Derek added: “The village hall has a fantastic atmosphere and it is community run. It is great to be in charge of that.”

Representatives from CAMRA visited the club on Sunday, May 18, to present the award and Derek and Alison intend to celebrate in style with a hog roast and plenty of real ale.