Beer drinkers had to draw straws for the last pint after barrels in a Strensall pub ran dry, the landlady has claimed.

WE'RE NOT BITTER: Cheryl Smith, landlady of the Ship Inn, Strensall, enjoys a drink with regulars. Drinkers had to draw straws for the last pint, when the Ship recently ran out of beer. Mrs Smith believes the brewery finished her account a week too early by mistake, as she is set to leave the pub this weekend Picture: Paul Baker

Cheryl Smith, who runs The Ship Inn, says she struggled to keep glasses topped up after Enterprise Inns apparently stopped her account a week early.

Mrs Smith is leaving the pub at the weekend after failing to agree the terms of a new lease.

But she believed a brewery error meant records showed she had already left and a delivery was cancelled, leaving regulars thirsty.

Mrs Smith said: "We were drawing straws to find out who was going to get the last pint of bitter, although I was definitely expecting a delivery and the brewery knew I was here until the weekend.

"I guess somebody pressed the wrong button on a computer or something."

Mrs Smith, who has run the pub for four years, has now managed to get a delivery which should last her until the weekend.

But the shortage of ale did not dissuade regulars from visiting the pub, who claim Mrs Smith's parting will be a sad day for The Ship.

John Michaels, who drinks in the pub, said: "She and her husband Martin have been absolutely fantastic in the way in which they have become an integral part of village life.

"Cheryl and Martin will retain the support of their regulars, even if we have to drink bitter lemon."

A spokesman for Enterprise Inns said: "We did everything we could to satisfy the tenant and her customers.

"As far as we are aware we fulfilled our weekly delivery and we did the best we could to make sure the beer was there for her."

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