I think it is quite appropriate to do my first pub review on one of the most popular ‘watering holes’ in the area.

Burnley’s multi-award winning Bridge Bier Huis is without doubt a premier drinking establishment, offering a amazing selection of ales and beers to suit all discerning customers.

The pub is owned by Emma Harrison and Simon Scott and has an ideal town-centre location.

They have been running the pub now for 10 years and during their tenure have served up more than 3,000 different beers, including a range of cask-conditioned ales, and foreign draught and bottled beers.

On my visit I was overwhelmed by the selection on offer — five cask ales, one traditional cider, seven draught, foreign beers, ranging from Belgian cherry to Dutch pilsner and German light and dark weisse beers. Plus, 40 —yes 40 — mostly German and Belgian bottled beers. Now you know why the pub is called the ‘Bier Huis’.

It is very popular with real ale drinkers and has scooped the East Lancashire CAMRA ‘Pub of the Year’ award in 2007, 2009 and 2012 — an amazing achievement, when you consider that a ruling debars a pub from winning the award, two years in succession!

The pub has a nice cross-section of clientele and a wide age range.

Emma said: “There is a good mix that regularly visit us, many characters, with an age range of 18-100, who stand next to each other, having a chat on a wide range of issues.”

As I gazed along the bar, I noticed the beer selection had a local theme — with cask ales from Reedley Hallows (Burnley), Arkwright’s of Preston and two from Moorhouse’s (including Premier at just £2 a pint).

Emma said: “As an independent pub, we like to support local brewers —in particular the area's micro-breweries — of which there are many to choose from.”

Yes, this town centre establishment ticks all the boxes — a friendly, welcoming pub, comfy surroundings with polite and helpful staff. And, of course, that mouth-watering selection of beers. You might say it’s beer utopia.