Cumbria's pubs will be screened across the nation next week thanks to two of their biggest fans.

Celebrity chef double act the Hairy Bikers will be featuring several from across the county in their series The Hairy Bikers’ Pubs That Built Britain.

These range from Carlisle’s historic premises from the days of state management to those in more the more scenic parts of the Lake District.

The Bikers’ - Dave Myers, who is from Cumbria, and Si King - said the idea of making a TV series which could involve them visiting public houses and drinking real ale was not a difficult one to say yes to.

Dave said: “We were asked, ‘Do you want to do a history of British pubs?’ and about three nanoseconds later we said: ‘Yes, thanks’.

“Pubs are signature subject matters, from political pubs in Manchester to state-owned pubs in Carlisle and the poet’s pubs of Georgian Lakeland.”

For their trip to the border city the pair went to bars which were part of Carlisle’s unique state management scheme, which saw government take over the brewing and supply of liquor in the city from 1916 until 1973.

This was introduced to control the alcohol intake of munitions workers at HM Factory Gretna by taking away financial incentives for publicans to sell alcohol. Famously, there was a period when buying rounds of drinks was forbidden under the system.

Several pubs were built through the scheme to designs by renowned architect Harry Redfern.

Dave and Si visited the Howard Arms, on Lowther Street, and the Cumberland Inn on Botchergate where they filmed scenes for the programme. The celebrity chefs also went to Longtown’s Graham Arms.

Elsewhere in Cumbria they toured the Lake District, sampling negus, a wine-based drink from the late 1800s, and visiting the Wasdale Head Inn, learning about its unique history of rock climbing.

Other pubs visited across England during the tour included the place believed to have been drunk dry by troops the night before the bloodiest battle of the English Civil War – the Battle of Marston Moor – and the inn which once doubled up as a hospital.

The series will explore the changing face of pubs and how many have defied the recent spate of closures due to loyal punters and dedicated staff.

Dave said: “A lot of the old historical pubs, the ones that have stayed as pubs and kept the values of 800 to 900 years ago, are doing alright. The pubs that are generally good have their own values and certainly a part of history.”

The pair discovered many dos and don’ts of running a pub. Dave said: “I think television in pubs is so wrong; it’s a complete killer. No matter what sort of pub it is, it’s about dedication; you have got to be there. The landlords and ladies we met, it was their total lives.”

The series starts next week and will be broadcast every day on BBC Two at 6.30pm. Carlisle’s episode is broadcast on May 6.