A HILLHOUSE pub has been chosen as Huddersfield's Campaign for Real Ale winter pub of the season 2003.

The Slubbers Arms is run by Mike and Karen Parrish, who took over in October.

"We are delighted with the award, very much so - it is a step in the right direction of getting on the real ale trail," said Mike.

The pub is highly regarded by real ale fans and currently offers four real ales as a Timothy Taylor's House and one guest beer.

Bob Tomlinson, of Huddersfield and District CAMRA said the pub was held in high affection, not just for the beer but for the characters they met there.

He said: "Its clientele have been variously described as ranging from 18 to 80, dustmen to directors and vicars to vagabonds."

Mike and Karen have retained the pub's original charm with no juke box, just good beer and conversation.

Food is served daily from noon to 2pm each day, including hot and cold sandwiches and soup and pie of the day.

The couple, who previously ran the Shoulder of Mutton at Gomersal, received the award from CAMRA branch secretary Valerie Kemp.