BLACKPOOL'S very own brewery is fizzing to success.

Launched only last September, Blackpool Bitter has gone down a treat as far north as Aberdeen and as far south as the House of Commons.

Brewery manager Kean Brown said: "It's going very well. We had excellent orders over Christmas and we're building up a good client base."

So far, the light-coloured, creamy-headed real ale has been a guest beer in around 100 Fylde pubs and clubs, and repeat orders are coming in not only locally but from Lancaster, Preston and Chorley.

In addition, a distribution deal with the Hogshead Group, through Lytham real-ale pub The Taps, means Blackpool Bitter is heading out every week to Hogshead and Flying Firkin pubs all over the country.

"At present, we're still having our beer contract-brewed at the Barnsley Brewery," said Mr Kean, "but we're getting ready to brew here in Blackpool before the summer season."

A further development will be Blackpool Bitter in kegs, as opposed to the traditional cask-conditioned, hand-pumped ale.

"We want to get into the hotel and guest-house market," said Mr Kean, "and they don't have the turnover for cask-conditioned ale. But it will still have the look of a traditional pint, with a cream-flow head."

He is also pushing his marketing further across Lancashire and into Manchester and, as the brewery grows, to take on more staff at its base in the Old Dairy, George Street.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.