IT'LL be beers all round at one Sussex brewery now they've been crowned the best in the country.

Harveys, based in Lewes, has taken the title of Best Brewery in the Good Pub Guide - partly thanks to its choice of delivery method.

Fiona Stapely, the editor of the guide who herself lives in Burwash, revealed the brewery delivering some of its beer by dray horse helped swing it.

She said: "The fact that Harveys deliver some of their beer by dray horse is lovely."

Miles Jenner, head brewer of Harveys, said they use the dray horse to "bring a flavour of a bygone brewing era" every Tuesday.

Speaking about the achievement in general, she said: "It's a very nice accolade for everyone at the brewery.

"It must in part be down to the quality and range of beers we offer.

"I think we stand out in some ways today as very much a heritage brewery with exacting standards.

"People feel that we are a very solid entity in Sussex and stand up as part of Sussex's brewing heritage. It's lovely to be part of that heritage and community."

Good Pub Guide editor Mrs Stapely added: "We know quite a lot about lots of breweries because we have been publishing for 30 years. We carefully monitor what our readers are saying.

"This year particularly we have had a lot of praise and feedback about Harveys.

"We know the brewery really well and I think it's great it has been running since 1790.

"Their beers are carefully crafted - there can't be a person in the world who doesn't love Harveys Best."

Mrs Stapely also said the decision to award Harveys, rather than one of Sussex's other breweries, was based on its reputation and spread across the county.

Mr Jenner said: "With the number of breweries to have sprung up this year we are thrilled.

"With recognition of this nature, everyone has played their part and we are very excited about it."

Conversely, not a single Sussex pub came in for a national award in this year's guide.

Harveys was chosen for the top spot for the 2016 edition based on feedback from readers of the guide.