AN HISTORIC Guiseley club is celebrating winning a major award for the quality of its ale - even if it did have to temporarily become a "pub" to qualify.

The Leeds branch of CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) faced a conundrum when a club, Guiseley Factory Workers Club & Institute, was considered for its Winter Pub of the Season 2006 award.

But the branch eventually decided that the Town Street venue, which has been running for more than a century, could be classed as a pub for the purposes of the competition.

Now the club has been named winner of the award in what it believes is a first for working men's clubs in the area.

Club assistant secretary Rick Lamb, of Grove Park, Yeadon said: "We're delighted, well pleased with it - it's the pinnacle of local success for us really. It's only awarded by beer drinkers who wouldn't have given us it if it wasn't right.

"This honour is awarded every season to the pub (or club) the membership decide deserves to be recognised for the quality of their beers.

"It is believed this is the first time that a working men's club has taken the award in Leeds.

"Because of the growing popularity of real ales the club has sold 140 different beers during the year and has tried more than 220 ales of a variety of styles and tastes during its short period of taking guest ales.

"The variety is important but it is the quality that is paramount and this is due to the skills of the club steward, Bill Warne, who has many years experience of looking after licensed premises and his staff."

The award will be presented to the club, which is also listed in CAMRA's 2007 Good Beer Guide, on Tuesday.

The club only introduced real ales a few years ago but they immediately proved a hit, and it was the only working man's club in Leeds to be named in last year's good beer guide.

Early in 2006 the establishment had its very own real ale, Factory Tun Up, produced to celebrate it reaching "a century of real ales". The exclusive special brew has proved a hit with members and visitors alike.