<bullet/The best beer in Yorkshire is about to be named. This Wednesday, the Rotherham Oakwood Beer Festival will host the first Official Champion Beer of Yorkshire competition

More than 200 different real ales are on offer, including beer from every brewery in Yorkshire.

Tasting panels will first select the best beer in different categories, such as bitter or stout, with the category winners progressing to a final.

For more details visit: www.realale.oakwood.yorks.com

<bullet/> TALKING of beer festivals, Shaun Collinge has announced the shock news that The Maltings will not be hosting a spring event this year.

Mr C, whose regular appearances in this column have dwindled now he's concentrating on his TV career, said that he didn't want the beer festival to get stale.

<bullet/> STRANGE coincidence that Bar Talk has noticed: some of the regulars from the Frog Hall are staying faithful to Wayne and Deanna and trekking across to the Melbourne in Fishergate to carry on supping.

When we popped in to see how things are going, there were half a dozen former regulars of the newly-refurbished Walker's Bar in there too. Looks like there is a market for real pubs after all...

<bullet/> PUB parking malarkey update. Two weeks ago, we reported how York landlord Stan Lucas was desperate for double yellow lines outside his pub, the Waggon and Horses, Lawrence Street, to stop motorists blocking his car park. He's got them. Look out for the street party, at which the landlord's speciality buffet nibble will be served... Stanaps.

Updated: 08:46 Saturday, February 09, 2002