A FLIXTON club has been named as the best place to drink quality ales and ciders in the country.

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has named Flixton Conservative Club as the country’s best and as a result beating 28,000 other similar drinking establishments in the process.

The club has recently undergone transformation, which has seen an even larger range of real ales and ciders brought in.

Husband-and-wife team Nigel and Sharon Porter described the award as ‘unbelievable’.

Mr Porter said: “To win this award, when we were up against thousands of clubs up and down the land, is absolutely amazing and we have been working towards it over the past few years winning local and regional awards.”

CAMRA also noted that the Flixton club runs a number of social events for the local community including brewery nights, quiz events and sports teams, including snooker.

There is even a walking group and a popular chess club that meets once a week in the club’s function room.

Regular entertainment takes place over the weekend with music, bingo and Open the Box with the chance to win up to £1,000.

Mr Porter said: “One of the things that makes us different is that the place gives off a warm and vibrant feel, which includes having some really nice beers and ciders, many of which are locally sourced from some great micro-breweries. The staff are also an amazing team and we have great support from the committee, so it’s a combination of factors.”

Keith Spencer, chairman of CAMRA’s clubs working group, said: “The Flixton Conservative Club has transformed itself over the past five years under new stewardship by expanding the real ale offering from just two to six at a time.

“The club is reaping the benefits and has become a thriving hub to the local community and a worthy winner of this year’s award.”