WORKING Men's Clubs are renowned for many things. The camaraderie, the variety of turns, the cheapness of the beer.

But they cannot claim to be celebrated as champions of real ale.

Some clubs take guest beers from smaller independent breweries. But mostly they float on a sea of John Smith's and Tetley's.

A pioneering partnership may change all that. York Brewery and Huntington & District Working Men's Club have teamed up to put the award-winning Yorkshire Terrier behind the club bar permanently.

"It's great for us to get into a working men's club, especially Huntington, which is a really nice and well-run club," said brewery boss Tony Thomson. "And from their point of view, they want more members. They're looking for the discerning cask ale drinker."

Priced at £1.86, this will be the cheapest pint of Yorkshire Terrier in the city. And the club is the only outlet in Huntington selling the 4.2 per cent brew.

If that alone is not enough to tempt you across the threshold, then the club is offering new members one month's free membership to celebrate the arrival of Terrier.

As well as supping a fine, cheap pint, you will be able to use the games room, with its two snooker tables, pool table, darts and doms.

Or breathe deeply in the smoke-free lounge. And there is entertainment every night: everything from sequence dancing and bingo to live bands.

Club treasurer Stan Mainprize is delighted to have Terrier on draught. "We thought members would appreciate a new cask beer because cask sells really well in our environment," he said.

"The main thing is to get people through the doors so they know the old cloth cap image no longer exists."

Unlike some clubs, Huntington is thriving, with 1,600 members. And its title is now a misnomer, as women are equally welcome.

Stan likes the new beer. "It's a very nice pint. If you're drinking it, you have got to make sure your wife's chauffering that night." Or the other way around, he added.

To apply for free membership drop a note to the club, on North Moor Road; call Stan on York 763235; or contact stewards Martin and Anne Rothwell on York 768370.

WE know that warm beer was a favourite of John Major. You remember John Major. Former Prime Minister. Glasses... No?

But even he might have baulked at ale served at 35C - only two degrees cooler than the average shower. "Beer police" from quality assessor Cask Marque discovered a Kent landlord pouring beer that warm during a random spot check.

To educate errant publicans and the general public, Cask Marque launched its Cask Is Cool campaign this midsummer week.

It stresses that brewers recommend beer should be served at 11-13 degrees centigrade.

Cask Marque's accreditation scheme assesses beer annually over four key criteria - temperature, appearance, aroma and taste.

More than 3,750 UK pubs have passed the inspection. Accredited pubs in York are: The Postern Gate, Piccadilly; the Golden Lion, Church Street; the Minster Inn, Marygate; the Punch Bowl, Blossom Street; the Lendal Cellars, Lendal; the Black Bull Hotel, Hull Road; the Grey Horse Inn, Elvington; the White Horse, Upper Poppleton; and the Royal Oak, Goodramgate.

For the full list visit www.caskmarque.co.uk.

Updated: 09:01 Saturday, June 25, 2005