A pub in Warboys whose licensees have raised thousands of pounds for local good causes has been named one of the UK's best outlets for real ales.

The Royal Oak beat tens of thousands of pubs across Britain to be included in the 51st edition of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide. 

Having taken over the pub just 18 months ago with Helen Pertoldi, Andrew Lea said: "It's amazing, we're both absolutely over the moon.

"I've been running pubs for the last 12 years, and this is the first time I've been nominated and got into it.

"It means a lot to us both to get into that guide as it comes from CAMRA members, so it's people who have actually been in and tried the beers.

"When Helen and myself took over the pub, we put in lots of hard work, cellar management and all sorts of cleaning to get the beers to a high standard."

The Hunts Post: The Royal Oak licensees Andrew Lea and Helen Pertoldi

As the pair rotate their ale offering every fortnight, they have served 30 different types of cask ales to their customers.

This has allowed guests to explore different styles of beers, including local producers to further afield independent brewers.

Andrew added: "Business is good. We're a strong drinkers' pub and have a good set of regulars who come in because they know the beer quality is always going to be good.

"We're competitively priced for the area, too, and we're lucky in our location as Warboys is quite a large village.

"But, without the support of the local community, it wouldn't be what it is."

Andrew and Helen have also become pillars of the local community, having raised £4,500 for local charities including Woodlands Cancer Care and The Huntingdon MS Therapy Centre.

They have also collected and donated 20 bags of soft toys to SERV Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to help them raise money so they can continue their voluntary work delivering blood, medicines, equipment and breast milk.

They also raised £800 towards a resident's trip to Africa to build schools and infrastructure for underserved communities.