A SMALL boozer with a big range of beer; an old man's hangout transformed by two of York's youngest licensees; an out-of-town haunt which is now centre stage.

Ladies and gentlemen, we give you... the Rook & Gaskill.

The Lawrence Street venue has been named the Pub Of The Year by the York branch of the Campaign For Real Ale. It is the first York Brewery pub to take the accolade.

Voted into first place in a poll of CAMRA's 500 members, the Rook & Gaskill has come a long way since York Brewery's Tony Thomson took on what was the Queen, reopening it in 2002.

"It's a pub that can be overlooked, being that little bit out of town," said Jim Thompson, chairman of York CAMRA. "When Tony Thomson announced he was taking over the Queen we all thought he was mad. It was a really run-down pub, but they have managed to turn it around. From what was an absolute dive to the Pub Of The Year: it's quite an achievement."

Unusually, the Rook is run by two former York University students, Dave Gardner and Gordon King. Jim said the dynamic duo are doing a great job.

"The beer's always on top form. And the age of the licensees attracts younger drinkers, although there's a real mixture of ages. Because it's got so many cask beers, it encourages youngsters to try real ale, possibly for the first time."

IT'S all go at York CAMRA, as March 17 approaches. That's the opening day of the York Beer Festival 2005.

More than 90 beers can be sampled during the three-day bash at the Priory Street Centre.

Tickets to the Friday night session are sold out and others are going fast. Priced £2, they are on sale at the Maltings, Tanners Moat; Blue Bell, Fossgate and the York Beer and Wine Shop, Sandringham Street.

This year's theme is the War Of The Roses, and CAMRA's finest have been checking out beers from both sides of the Pennines. The strongest beer set to appear comes from the Lancastrians: Boggart Hole Brewery, Manchester, is supplying Steaming Boggart, scheduled to be nine per cent ABV.

In addition to the showdown between 60 Lancashire and Yorkshire beers, another 30 are being sourced from elsewhere in Britain.

Updated: 16:41 Friday, March 04, 2005