BEER drinkers are finding the 'hair of the dog' in the unlikely location of a greyhound stadium.

The Pelaw Grange track, at Chester-le-Street, has become an off-beat haven for real ale enthusiasts. Thanks to track manager Jeff McKenna's love of traditionally-brewed beers, the stadium bar is fast earning a reputation for its range of real ales.

So much so, that it won the Club of the Year award from the Durham and District branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, earlier this year.

Jeff decided to add to the bar's renown and build on the success of the accolade by staging his own mini beer festival. The four-day-fest, which ended last weekend, featured a range of real ales from micro- breweries around the country, most with a dog-related theme