A FAMOUS ale lover and pub enthusiast has become the first honorary member of the British Guild of Beer Writers.

Barrow-born Dave Myers - one half of the Hairy Bikers TV chefs duo - has been honoured for helping to promote beers and pubs across the nation in an awards ceremony on December 1.

The 59-year-old who has been involved in a number of show with his TV partner Si King, including The Hairy Bikers' Pubs That Built Britain earlier this year, was also one of the judges and helped to select the award winners from the 150-plus entries submitted.

Mr Myers said: "This was totally unexpected, but very welcome. I'm delighted to become part of an organisation that promotes beer and pubs: two great British institutions that I've always been happy to support.

"Judging the guild's awards was a pleasure. I was delighted to discover a wealth of seriously good writing about beer and pubs by some talented communicators and I hope that by becoming involved with the Guild I might be able to help push more of their excellent work out to a broader audience."

Chairman of the guild, Tim Hampson, who presented Mr Myers with his award, said: "The guild wanted to occasionally honour the work of people outside our membership who have fulfilled our mission ‘to extend public knowledge and appreciation of beer and pubs.'

"Dave was a dedicated and enthusiastic judge of our awards, as well as being a powerful advocate for beer and pubs through his TV programmes and books. We're delighted to make him the guild's first honorary member."

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