THE Rat and Ratchet has been voted Huddersfield's Mild Pub of the Year.

The Chapel Hill pub won the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) title for the second year running, thanks to the wide range of mild beers it served up for drinkers during May.

Owner and brewer Andrew Moorhouse does not usually brew a mild, but tries to have a guest one on all the time.

During the judging month of May The Rat and Ratchet put on a bigger range than usual and drinkers praised the quality of the beer.

The pub is run by Mr Moorhouse and his wife, Maxine.

The runner-up was The Star in Albert Street, Lockwood, and third place went to the Albert Hotel, in Victoria Lane, Huddersfield town centre.

Marsh Liberal Club, in New Hey Road, was voted the best club for selling mild.

Paddock Conservative Club, in Raven Street, came second.

Bob Tomlinson, of the Huddersfield and District branch of Camra, said: "Our organisation's national campaign to promote mild during May has now become an annual event.

"Its success has been in raising awareness among beer drinkers, landlords and club stewards that mild is no longer a poor substitute for bitter. Often drinkers are surprised by the wide variety of milds, which range in colour from pale gold to dark brown."