WETHERSPOONS in Warrington is joining the craft beer revolution.

The Friar Penketh in Barbauld Street is dedicating its upstairs bar to craft ales and continental beers with a launch night tomorrow, Friday.

Representatives from the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), Warrington’s Coach House Brewing Company and Hawkshead Brewery will join craft beer enthusiasts from 6pm to 8pm.

Pub manager Tom Quinn has worked in pubs since he was 18 and has been with Wetherspoons for three years.

He said: “I’ve been in the business for 10 years and I’ve seen cask ales and craft beers become more and more popular.

“People are passionate about it and it opens up conversations about beers and breweries. There are hundreds of them out there.

“It makes things more interesting than drinking run-of-the-mill lagers. People want to try new things.”

The bar will be called The Crafty Friar and will feature five beers on tap and bottles from around the world.

Coach House is making an exclusive ale for the bar and Brewdog’s Punk IPA and a beer from Brooklyn’s Sixpoint Brewery will be regulars on tap.

There will also be two guest beers on draught at all times which will focus on the burgeoning American hop-loaded craft beer scene. Regulars can also make requests.

“We did a tasting last night and I think they’re fantastic,” added Tom, aged 28, whose favourite beer is Mexico’s Negra Modelo.

“Craft and world beers seem to be the in-thing at the moment so we wanted to base the whole bar around it.”