IT'S going to be a busy 2004 for Richard Baker's Bowland Beer Company. Richard is preparing to welcome the first-ever tour of his re-housed brewery on January 30.

It will be a major step in the development of the Bashall Barn brewery, which Richard founded after moving to East Lancashire from the Falkland Islands.

Richard now brews four or five ales at any one time and has regular customers, such as the Red Pump pub in Bashall Eves and the Victoria Hotel in Great Harwood.

His new brewery has been built in a refurbished milking house next to Bashall Farm Shop just outside Clitheroe.

When it is fully working Richard will produce nearly 3,000 pints of ale a week with a capacity to go to 6,000.

Richard said: "When people start ringing you, you know you are starting to get the beer right."

Ales include Bowland Gold, Bowland Oak and Headless Peg, named after a famous Ribble ghost!