CROSS Hills is right on the borders of North and West Yorkshire, but is easily accessible by bus from Keighley.

In recent years, the real ale scene here has improved considerably, with Naylor’s Brewery well established and more recently, in February of this year, the refurbishment of the Old White Bear Pub.

Brothers Stephen and Robert Naylor began brewing back in 2001 at The Old White Bear.

They soon realised that their passion lay solely in brewing, and in 2006 they made the decision to concentrate on producing quality, hand-crafted beers.

The pair have developed many outstanding beers, won numerous awards and seen production increase annually.

Their brewery is easy to find – just look for the sign to the Emporium at the entrance to the industrial estate on the right over the railway bridge from Cross Hills.

The brothers even held their first "comedy club" night at these premises last year.

At the Beer Emporium, the shop is open for off-sales of bottled beers from Monday to Saturday.

Naylor’s brewery tap is normally only open for on-sales Thursday to Saturday, although Wednesday evening opening is planned from mid-August onwards.

Four draught real ales are available from the Naylor’s range.

In March 2015 the Emporium was extended upstairs with the opening of the Beer Belly Kitchen and the addition of new toilets.

In the downstairs bar, the emphasis is on good company, friendly chatter and the appreciation of good beer.

Upstairs is used mainly for dining, but also provides an overflow area for drinkers after the food service is finished. The brewing equipment can be viewed from the entrance to the bar.

The Old White Bear Pub, which is run by the local Pickles Pub Company, is a popular four room village pub with exposed timbers said to have come from a ship of the same name.

It always has three Naylor’s beers, plus two guest beers. It has a lovely walled garden and courtyard, with plenty of outside seating.

It was built in 1735, with a chequered history as a hotel, brothel, council meeting room and dance hall before becoming a pub.

Food is served daily. The back room has pub games whilst the top room with its stone-flagged floor is used mainly for diners. Buses 25, 66/66A stop nearby.

The Campaign for Real Ale's national website is camra.org.uk You can contact the local branch via the website keighleyandcraven.camra.org.uk or telephone the branch contact on 01756 796167.

Have you missed any of Keighley and Craven Camra's previous Down The Pub articles in the Keighley News? Don't worry, simply visit the Keighley News website at keighleynews.co.uk, click on What's On then Food & Drink and Down the Pub.