A BUSINESSMAN who bought an ailing brewery because he liked the beer has told of his pride at the official opening of its new £4.2million complex.

Bill Parkinson bought Moorhouse’s brewery in 1985, shortly after tasting a pint of Pendle Witches Brew at the Eagle and Child, in Wharles, near Kirkham.

Yesterday saw the unveiling of the Burnley firm’s new tower brewery, visitor centre, and bistro, off Accrington Road.

The development will treble its production capacity to more than 1,000 barrels a week, the equivalent of 15million pints a year, and brings 23 new full and part-time jobs.

At the opening, Padiham-born Mr Parkinson, whose parents used to run the Hapton Road Chippy, recalled the brewery’s humble beginnings.

He said: “Twenty five years ago a friend took me to this pub because they had Moorhouse’s beer.

"I had never tasted a beer from Moorhouse’s, or even heard of it, but when I had a sip I thought ‘wow, that’s fantastic’.

“The owner had died and a week or two later the business was put up for sale, so I moved quickly and within four weeks I bought it.”

When Mr Parkinson bought Moorhouse’s, the brewery produced just 10 barrels-a-week.

The former Clitheroe Royal Grammar School pupil, who made his fortune through Lifting Gear Hire, hailed managing director David Grant for advancing the business.

He said: “Lifting Gear Hire was the market leader, so I was banging against the ceiling, but with the brewery there was unlimited growth potential.

“To achieve something like this, somebody has to dream it first and the guy who dreamt this was David Grant.

"He has been phenomenal. He eats, sleeps and breathes the business and his passion and enthusiasm really come across.”

In recent years Moorhouse’s has scooped a number of prestigious awards, including the Supreme Champion gong for its Black Cat ale last year.

Mr Parkinson said the brewery must now justify the investment by increasing sales.

This will include providing cask ale to pubs and bottled beers to supermarkets.

Mr Grant said: “We intend that our world-class ales will play a big part in that growth to win new markets nationally.

"Burnley will become famed throughout the land as the home of top-quality cask ales and our visitor centre will be a significant attraction.”