Ardrossan Accies Rugby Club has won a prestigious national award for the quality of the beer on sale at its clubhouse.

The club was awarded the title of Scotland and Northern Ireland Club of the Year for 2022 by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Members of CAMRA voted on the overall winner, judging the quality of the real ale, as well as the club’s promotion and product knowledge, cleanliness, service and welcome, style, décor and furnishing, community focus, and atmosphere.

Allan Merry, membership secretary of the club, said: “This is a great achievement for the club in its centenary year.

“We are the only bar in Ardrossan selling real ale and we now have several CAMRA members who have joined the club using a special associate membership aimed at CAMRA members.

“We thought it was a great achievement when we won the local award, but to win the regional award is fantastic and will hopefully put the club on the real ale map.”

As one of 16 regional winners, the club now has a shot at being named the National CAMRA Club of the Year in January 2023.

They will find out if they’re one of the four regional winners who have been shortlisted for the award on November 16 at the Club Mirror Awards in Leicester.

Phil Gregg, national coordinator for the Club of the Year competition, said: “The fact that we’re still seeing such shining examples of club excellence despite these challenges is incredible, and a real testament to these winners.

“We believe that member only clubs are important community assets that promote the social wellbeing of the local area, and this competition aims to highlight the very best examples across the country.”