ONE of Bolton's smallest pubs is getting bigger — and celebrating its first awards.

Great Ale Year Round — based at Bolton Market's lifestyle hall — has been named as Bolton CAMRA's pub of the season.

The award comes hot on the heels of its best pub of the year gong at the glitzy Bolton Mecca Bingo Awards 2015.

The pub — run by husband and wife team Steve and Anne Simms — opened an expanded food area three weeks ago and is now serving meats, cheeses, artisan breads with dipping oils, and other locally sourced snacks.

Mr Simms said: "Hopefully these two awards are the first of many for us. We took over here last September and we just love it.

"The food is going down really well with our regulars and we are trying to get the best locally sourced stuff including next door from the market.

"We launched three weeks ago and knowing that we have a loyal bunch of customers we thought maybe 100 people would turn up but there was more than 300. We were amazed — but it was a great night.

"Every time we have an evening event at the market it's packed — there is definitely scope for more evening events.

"We stay open until 7pm every night even though the market closes at 5pm and sometimes we are busier in those two hours because we get the post-work crowd coming in. The lifestyle hall is definitely good for evening customers.

"Bolton Council has created something very special here in Bolton with the lifestyle hall. People come here from other places in the North West and no other market has got this concept."