More expansion is firmly on the cards at a brewery business which was rescued by its founder after bankers threatened to pull the plug during the credit crunch.

Skipton’s Copper Dragon Brewery is looking to maintain its growth after boosting turnover by 15 per cent in 2010.

The firm has seen rising demand for its range of hand-crafted bottled and cask beers, with orders from Central and Eastern Europe increasing.

Founder and managing director Steve Taylor said: “Despite the downturn, Britain’s fondness for real ale continues to rise. Discerning customers are looking for new tastes in their beers.

“Interest in our range of ales, in particular Golden Pippin, has grown, and we’ve seen demand from many new trading areas.

“The next 12 months will see us launch four special ales, with the very popular Fred Trueman Ale making a comeback in February. We are also heavily investing in a new bank of fermenters which will increase our capacity and cement our status as a true regional brewer.”

The Copper Dragon Bistro, based at the brewery off Keighley Road, has also increased customer numbers by around 20 per cent.

Mr Taylor said: “The culinary expertise of our head chefs Karl and Marie Reader has made this venue a real success story.

“We will also be further developing our conference facilities with a growing number of local firms enjoying the novelty of hosting events within the brewery.”

Established in 2002 in a new £4.5m brewery, Copper Dragon supplies its ales to more than 2,000 pubs across the UK as well as major supermarkets and foreign markets.