WORLD-famous Barnsley business Acorn Brewery has appointed a new general manager - and she’s hoping her local roots will play a role in its future success.

Launched in 2003, Acorn’s cask-ales quickly gained renown to see expansion to a 25-barrel brewery in Wombwell.

The brewery was sold to Sonas Capital and Liz Casserly, from Penistone, will oversee its running.

Liz, 40, said: ”I have a passion for hospitality, brewing and beer.

“I have known and loved Acorn beers for years, so I am delighted to have this opportunity to take the brewery forward, building on the past 20 successful years.

“We have a top-class core cask range and that doesn’t need to change, but we will look at other opportunities for development.

“Lots of young people have never sampled cask ale - I would like to see them falling in love with cask as I did when I was 18, drinking to enjoy the flavour of beers rather than simply drinking.”

Acorn was founded by former chef Dave Hughes on a ten-barrel brew length plant and quickly gained attention for its range of cask-conditioned ales to see expansion.

Acorn brews use the unique original Barnsley Brewery yeast strain from the 1800s.

Brendan Fitzpatrick, director of Sonas Capital, added: “In Liz we now have a first-class general manager to lead the excellent Acorn team forward and grow the business in the face of an extremely challenging environment for both brewing and hospitality.

“Liz brings a wealth of management experience to the post, with the energy, enthusiasm and imagination to match these challenges.”