One of the truly great things about Parliament is that MPs frequently have the opportunity to showcase and celebrate the best food and drink that their constituency has to offer. One of the easiest and most popular ways to do this, for workers and visitors alike, is to request that one of the two cask ales available in the Strangers' Bar each week is from an independent, regional brewer in your area.

I was absolutely delighted therefore to welcome David Williams, one of the three Directors of the excellent Towcester Mill Brewery, to Parliament in the week that the Strangers' Bar was hosting our local Bell Ringer ale. The Towcester Mill Brewery has become a true success story for the town, bringing commercial brewing back to Towcester for the first time in over a hundred years, and continues to go from strength to strength since they opened in 2014.

David said:

"It was great to experience the Houses of Parliament and to see a Towcester Mill beer at the very heart of British democracy!

"Being our local MP as well as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, it was really encouraging to see Andrea Leadsom's support for our brewery and to see Bell Ringer being served in the Strangers bar in the Houses of Parliament.

"My thanks go out to Andrea and her team for making this happen and to really put Towcester Mill Brewery on the map!"

We had the opportunity to catch up and talk about their growing business and the opportunities that the Mill site has offered them, as well as to pull a pint together behind the bar! A number of colleagues have commented on the refreshing and clear qualities of the ale, and my own parliamentary team are all big fans!

I would happily recommend Bell Ringer to everyone (over eighteen!) who enjoys a good beer, and I look forward to stopping by the Mill again soon.