London

Park Tavern

Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey

Park Tavern has been on the cask beer

lovers' trail ever since Peter McFarlane, wife Jo and daughter Sue took over the freehold 17 years ago.

In that time, the McFarlanes have no idea how many different ales they have served. The figure must run into many hundreds

if the variety of pump clips that festoon one wall and fill several boxes stored under the bar are anything to go by.

Off the beaten track

The fact that the Park Tavern does such roaring business - its annual barrelage is about 400, of which 60% is cask beer - is all the more impressive given its size and location.

It is tucked away in a residential side-

street with no parking, well away from the town centre. Customers have to cram inside

because the bar area is a mere 72sqm.

Six appeal

Once found, customers regularly return to sample the six ales that are always on the bar.

The three permanent ales are Fuller's

London Pride, Young's Bitter and Timothy Taylor's Landlord.

The other three guest ales are rotated at least once a week, with Jo making the

decision on what to stock. Virtually all the cellar work is done by Peter, who estimates that he spends at least an hour and a half every day ensuring the beers are properly looked after.

Cask beer sales rose by 10% last year, but Peter says the tiny cellar, just 14sqm, is "reaching bursting point". Yet somehow,

he manages to squeeze in even more casks

to slake the ever increasing thirst of the Park's many customers.

We don't want change

The 1960s-style décor is restored regularly to keep it in prime condition.

"We don't want change," Peter emphasises. Nor, it seems, do the customers.

"Nobody comes in just for a quick pint," he remarks.

Peter notes: "We have never sold keg beer or its like. We are a cask beer pub - nothing more, nothing less."