A BREWERY tap has opened at Crossflatts – and is going down a treat!

Behind the initiative is Goose Eye Brewery, which began work on the project – at its site on the Castlefields Industrial Estate – last year.

Dave Atkinson, managing director of the family-owned business, said the tap had only launched at the end of last month but was already proving popular.

"Since we bought our existing building two years ago it has always been the plan to open a brewery tap on the mezzanine floor – we just didn’t realise it would take us so long!" he added.

"We’ve put a lot of hard work into the scheme and so have the local tradesmen we've used, so we are immensely proud now that it’s finished.

"We hope visitors share our opinion that it’s a lovely little spot – and certainly in the short time we've been open, we have already established a ‘regulars’ crowd.

"It's a nice feeling to know that people like it enough to come back for more."

Goose Eye Brewery was founded in 1991 by Keighley man Jack Atkinson.

His wife Linda, son Dave, grandsons Joe and Jack and their brother-in-law, Jamie Rowell, are all involved in the award-winning business.

The expanding firm moved to a newly-refurbished commercial unit at Crossflatts in 2017 after 26 years brewing from South Street, Keighley.

"We had spent many years searching for the perfect property to move the brewery into and offer additional space for the expansion," said Dave.

"The move allowed the business to invest in a state-of-the-art brewing kit, enabling us to increase brewing capacity and streamline production."

Joe Atkinson, the head brewer, said he felt that the brewery tap had boosted the offering in the Crossflatts area.

"It's a nice little stop-off point for people and we've had a great response from the businesses on the trading estate," he added.

The brewery received the Micro-business of the Year accolade at the recent Keighley & Airedale Business Awards, following on from its Food & Drink Business of the Year Award in 2017.

And its brews have scooped honours – Over & Stout won gold in its category at the Society of Independent Brewers north-east regional awards last year and Chinook Blonde was a finalist in the Great British Beer Festival Champion Beer of Britain contest in 2017.