by Julia Roberts

juroberts@thekmgroup.co.uk

Drinkers at The Leather Bottle in Cobham will be raising more than just a glass to the author Charles Dickens - they’ll be raising an ale named in his honour too.

The pub, immortalised by Dickens in The Pickwick Papers, has launched the Charles Dickens Ale in an exclusive promotion with brewer Shepherd Neame to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birthday.

The beer is selling for £3.40 a pint and staff hope it will become a favourite tipple with customers.

Manager Sara Saunders said: “Because of our connections with Charles Dickens, we asked Shepherd Neame if we could come up with some kind of ale that we could name after him. It is one of their existing brands which we have been allowed to rename.”

A new pump clip and bar mats have also been designed, and staff are to be given new T-shirts embroidered with The Leather Bottle and Shepherd Neame.

Shepherd Neame national account regional manager Jo Edens said: “People are always interested in Charles Dickens and we hope the Charles Dickens ale proves just as popular.”