THE best pint of bitter in the North comes from York - that's the verdict of a panel of expert brewers.

York Brewery's Guzzler was voted the gold-medal winner in the bitter category of the North Beer Competition, held by the Society of Independent Brewers.

"I'm over the moon," said Tony Thomson, managing director of York Brewery.

"This is a terrific accolade from our peers in the brewing business.

"Guzzler has long been a hit in our pubs, and now it has been declared the best for miles around." Guzzler's success comes after another York Brewery beer, Centurion's Ghost Ale, was declared the best strong bitter in Britain at the Great British Beer Festival last year.

To celebrate the Guzzler gold medal, diners can enjoy two main meals for the price of one at the brewery's Yorkshire Terrier pub, in Stonegate, York, from Monday to Saturday until February 3. Its kitchen has been refurbished and reopened following a fire there before Christmas.