A LOCAL Brewery has won big at this year SIBA North East Independent Beer Awards for their products. 

The First and Last Brewery in Northumberland has won Silver for their Milk stout and Bronze for Reiver Bitter.

Co-Director of The First and Last Brewery, Sam Kellie said: "We're absolutely ecstatic as you can imagine after the last 18 months we have all had in the hospitality sector.

"We enter these awards every year as we are members of the Society of Independent Brewers, what is great about these awards is they are judged by people who work in our industry. These awards mean a lot because of who they are judged by."

The brewery was established in 2016 and is an award-winning family-run, microbrewery based in Elsdon in the heart of Northumberland. 

They provide beers across the North East for pubs and residents and also deliver their products UK wide. 

Sam said: "95% of what we do is North East based, we're proud of being rural, that's where our core market is and where we lie."

Arguably the hospitality sector has had it tougher than most in the last 18 months with some hospitality businesses having to shut their doors for good. 

On what the last 18 months have been like for his business Sam said: "As a small business you haven't got much to fall back on in terms of financial reserves but you can react quickly which we did by concentrating on selling cans and bottles with free delivery to customers across Northumberland.

"Before lockdown, we were 90% cast to pubs but since lockdown, that has changed."

Since lockdown restrictions have eased and the summer came into full swing seeing tourists flock to the Northumberland National Park, business has picked up for the Hospitality sector. 

Sam said: "It's been a tough year for the sector but this summer has been great, it's the busiest I've ever seen it as people are travelling exploring what is on their doorsteps as they can't go abroad. 

"Trade has been good and the pubs have been busy we've had a hectic month and we have had a full worrisome year."