Hawkshead Brewery's SIBA triumph

The Hawkshead Brewery has been named overall winner in SIBA's inaugural Local Brewing Business Awards.

The finals ceremony, held at the prestigious headquarters of the Institute of Directors, saw nine awards given to local breweries in recognition of their initiatives to grow commercial results for their businesses and those of their trade partners.

Hawkshead won for their entry in the best new launch category, which detailed the development of the Beer Hall in their new brewery at Staveley, Cumbria.

The awards' title sponsor Lloyds TSB presented them with their trophy.

The Beer Hall is a bar and visitor centre in an industrial village and so places Hawkshead at the heart of the growing movement towards local produce and local craftsmen.

As all our winners have proved, these new awards are a great showcase for our members to demonstrate just how focused they are on creating and growing business for their customers​Keith Bott, SIBA Chairman.

Income streams from this diversified part of the business are reinvested in installing dispensing and cellaring equipment in local pubs and hotels to satisfy increasing consumer demand for real ale.

Keith Bott, SIBA Chairman, said: "As all our winners have proved, these new awards are a great showcase for our members to demonstrate just how focused they are on creating and growing business for their customers."​

Best support for on-trade retailer​Everards

Best support for off-trade retailer​Westerham

Best PR initiative​MoorhousesWentworth (Highly Commended)Skinners (Highly Commended)

Best use of electronic media​Meantime

Best innovation​Isle of Skye

Best promotion​Everards

Best packaging​Wye ValleySaltaire (Highly Commended)

Best new launch​HawksheadMeantime (Highly Commended) Westerham (Highly Commended)

Overall winner​Hawkshead