A REAL ale lover who has run pubs throughout north Durham is launching a micro brewery, after taking over two historic inns.

Publican and brewer John Taylor has teamed up with businessmen Jeff Hind and John Walters to launch Bull Lane Brewery at The Clarendon in Hendon, Sunderland.

They have also bought the Grey Horse in Sherburn Terrace, Consett, which has its own micro brewery, making a total investment of several hundred thousand pounds.

Mr Taylor, 46, who also runs the Sun Inn at the Beamish Museum, said the three outlets would give his real ales an instant market.

"The hardest part of starting a new brewery is finding outlets you can trust," he said.

"Brewing for our own outlets gives us a guaranteed product right down the line to the customer."

Mr Taylor ran the Travellers Rest in Claypath, Durham, before opening the popular Beamish Mary Inn at Beamish, near Stanley.

The Grey Horse was run for 16 years by Paul and Rosaleen Conroy, who made a place known for its real ales.

Mr Conroy, 58, also had a micro brewery, Derwentrose, which produced beers with names reflecting Consett's heritage, such as Red Dust, Steel Town and Pott's Clock.

Mr Taylor plans to revamp the pub's brewery and launch his own ales for Consett.