South East

Cricketers Arms

Eastleigh, Hampshire

The biggest challenge for South African-born Jason Schinkel has been keeping lots of different cask beers, despite the Cricketers Arms being a tied house.

Jason has been a manager at the

Greene King outlet for four-and-a-half years and says: "Our customers have always

requested real ales and we have always tried to give them what they want."

The customers' passion for cask beers

is evident when Jason remarks: "We've

organised trips to breweries, including

Fuller's and Young's. We've also been to

Burton-on-Trent."

Festival time

Jason also organises two beer festivals a year for his customers - one in April and another in August.

"We bring in local beer, including supplies from Southampton's White Star brewery. We have about 20 guest beers altogether and get through 20 nine-gallon firkins in a weekend," he says.

The festivals are held in an old shed

and bales of hay are set out for seats.

"People enjoy that rustic feel," he says.

Doubling the turnover

The bar inside the pub is usually stocked with at least five ales with Greene King's IPA, Abbot Ale and Old Speckled Hen taking prominence.

Jason remarks: "When I took the pub on, we were turning over around £10,000 a week. Now, the average is about £20,000, though we recently did £27,000."

Last year, cask beer sales rose by 9% and trade was split 70:30 in favour of wet sales. Jason anticipates this will change to 60:40 as more customers are drawn to a newly

completed dining area. "I don't want it to be any more than this, I don't want to lose the pub feeling you get in here."

Beer training

Members of staff have tutored in the characteristics of the ales and trained in matching beers with food.

Jason remarks: "I'd love to be the lessee here and despite some people believing that managers don't care as much - I love my job and that's why the pub is so successful.

"I can't wait for the next beer festival."