Local author Andrew Ketley has been honoured in the annual British Guild of Beer Writers' Awards for his popular book series telling the often-scandalous stories of pubs around Wisbech.

He has scooped a silver prize in the Best Citizen Beer Communicator category 2023 for the first five books in his series Wisbech Inns, Taverns and Beer-Houses Past and Present, published by the Friends of Wisbech and Fenland Museum.

Andrew said: “I am delighted to have won this award and to be among a distinguished company of writers from the Guild.

“At the same time the books would not have become as successful as they have without the help and co-operation of fellow members of the Friends and the Museum itself.”

Andrew has been researching the series through old photographs, newspaper stories, maps and other local resources for more than 20 years, and the first volume of the alphabetical series came out in 2021.

He hasn't finished yet. The fifth volume, published this summer, recounts tales of pubs initialled O to R, and the sixth is expected in 2024.

Proceeds from sale of the books, after publishing costs, are donated by the Friends to the Museum to help cover running costs.

The British Guild of Beer Writers was founded in 1988 to 'improve the standards of beer writing and public knowledge about beer and pubs' and its 300 individual members include journalists, authors, bloggers, broadcasters, producers and PR consultants.

Volumes 1 and 2 of the series cost £10 each while Volumes 3, 4 and 5 cost £14 each.

They can be bought from the museum shop at the new entrance opposite St Peter's Church, at the new Magwitch pub in Hill Street and at the Community Hub in Octavia Hill House, South Brink.

The museum shop is open during Museum opening hours, Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.