Royal Standard,

Croydon

At the Royal Standard in Croydon, long-time licensee Martin Perkins clearly has a good rapport with his BDM. The last time Tempest visited, Perkins had asked whether he could get hold of a Stella T-shirt for one of his regulars. "That will make his day," he comments when given the package.

Perkins had been the manager at the Standard for 15 years before he switched to being a tenant two years ago. The timing couldn't have been worse because the council introduced parking meters outside his front door, which dissuaded customers because the small ale house has no car park of its own. He says Tempest and Fuller's have been as sympathetic as they can be to his problem. He adds: "The difference between dealing with an area manager and a BDM is like chalk and cheese. When I was a manager, it was: Why haven't you done this? Why haven't you done that?' But with a BDM, it is more What can I do to help?' and Tim will help as much as he can."

Their meeting is a short, cordial affair because the pair will meet in a week's time to go through the premises licence application form and arrange details for a real ale season featuring different brews over a six-week period.

Two months later: Martin Perkins reports the licence application has been submitted to the solicitors for vetting and the details are currently being finalised prior to submission to Croydon council. The beer festival has now finished and Perkins says: "It was very popular and everything went very smoothly from the brewery."

Licensee's verdict: "He's excellent and always at the end of the phone if I need anything. He'll even deliver a cask to me, if need be."