BOSSES at Bolton Ukrainian Club have raised a glass after it was named “regional club of the year” in the Greater Manchester Campaign for Real Ale Awards (CAMRA).

Dubbed “Greater Manchester’s finest”, the Castle Street club has been voted Bolton CAMRA Branch’s Club of the Year for the past three years.

Competing against clubs from each of the region’s eight other branches, the Ukrainian club came out on top and was praised for promoting real ale and local breweries.

It has benefited from increased membership after winning three years in a row.

Yaroslaw Tymchyshyn, spokesman for Bolton Ukrainian Club, said: “This is the first time that the club has gone into the regional finals and won it.

“It now means we go forward to the national finals.

“We’re now in the Good Pub Guide. Our name is out there now and people are beginning to understand we do quality real ales.

“Also the fact that earlier this year, the Bolton branch of CAMRA had their beer festival at the club.

“It can only enhance the reputation of the club.”

The Ukrainian club will fly the flag for Bolton at the national competition later in the year when they will compete against local branches from across the UK to be crowned National Club of the Year.

Bolton CAMRA Branch Secretary Graham Walsh said: “To win this award is a fantastic achievement for the Ukrainian Club and for the town. They have done a great job in promoting cask-conditioned ale from thriving local breweries such as Bank Top and Blackedge as well as hosting the annual Bolton CAMRA Beer Festival.”