Top of the class

CaskForce, the beer quality initiative driven by Marston's in conjunction with Cask Marque and the Morning Advertiser, announces its second monthly winners

Real-ale drinkers at the Nags Head in Ripley always knew standards were high at their favourite pub, and now they know why - staff have re-

ceived expert tuition in how to get beer

quality right from Marston's UK team of CaskForce trainers.

And all the hard work has really paid off. This terraced freehouse community local, close to the town centre, was the second pub this year to be picked for the Beautiful Beer Gold Award, and won £500 to put towards pub development.

In fact, the Derbyshire pub scored one of the highest marks ever for the award - a fantastic 100% for both the cellar and bar component of the test. This is a real achievement for a

pub that entered CaskForce for the first time this year.

"Understanding how to achieve top-quality beer is paramount, particularly with real ales," says licensee Steve Marshall. "As a wet-led pub, our customers are a discerning lot and if we didn't make sure we served top-quality cask ale, they'd soon let us know."

Marshall says that is the reason why he

decided to enter the CaskForce challenge

and make sure all his staff were trained in

the nationally-recognised BIIAB Award in Beer & Cellar Quality (ABCQ).

The pub serves Marston's Pedigree as its

regular cask ale and adds two other guest brands every week. Ideally located near the beautiful rolling Peak District countryside, Marshall receives plenty of bikers who stop by his pub for a drink, in addition to his loyal group of locals. Having just decorated his pub for St Patrick's Day, Marshall says: "It is a double celebration for us this year, we're really pleased all our efforts with CaskForce have been recognised, and we had a great turnout on Monday for St Patrick's Day."

By being the lucky winner of this month's draw, the Nags Head not only wins £500 towards pub development, it also goes forward with six other pubs to the CaskForce grand draw in September, where one licensee will be picked to get their rent paid for a whole year, or receive the equivalent in cash if the winning pub is free trade. And Marshall plans to spend his £500 award wisely - he hopes to put the money towards new flooring for the pub.

Look out for the announcement of next month's CaskForce winners and remember, it isn't too late to register your pub and become part of the celebrated quality initiative that is CaskForce.

what is CaskForce?

Thousands of licensees have benefited from Marston's CaskForce scheme, which is now in its third year.

It gives hosts the chance to improve their cask-ale offering through professional advice and cellar training from Marston's experts, helping them to achieve the

BIIAB-approved Award in Beer & Cellar

Quality (ABCQ).

THREE CHANCES TO WIN: THE ROUTE TO GETTING YOUR RENT PAID FOR A YEAR

Stage one: the BIIAB Award in Beer & Cellar Quality (ABCQ)

Apply online or ring the hotline for a chance to be chosen for the unique in-cellar training for licensees and pub staff. From January to August we are sending our team of beer-quality experts to pubs around the country to deliver the nationally-recognised ABCQ.

A monthly draw will pick 20 pubs to go forward for the free training course. Another 360 pubs will be nominated by Marston's freetrade and national sales teams.

In order to qualify for this, you need to be eligible to stock any beer from the Marston's beer portfolio. All qualified CaskForce members from previous years that have not been drawn will have automatic entry.

Stage two: Cask Marque accreditation

Once you've got your ABCQ under your belt, you automatically go through to a draw to be in with a chance to win the respected Cask Marque quality accreditation.

Each month 20 pubs are picked from a draw and given the chance to gain the Cask Marque accreditation, or have their annual fee paid for a year.

To qualify, you need to have achieved the ABCQ, or already hold the Cask Marque accreditation.

Stage three: new this year -

the BBPA Gold Award

Each month 10 pubs with Cask Marque accreditation are picked from a draw and given the chance to receive the Beautiful Beer Gold Award and £500 to invest in pub improvements.

One of these elite pubs every month will then go through to the grand final, with the chance to win their rent paid for a year

(or the freetrade equivalent).

Join our hall of fame

To win free ABCQ training in your pub

go to www.caskforce.co.uk, or call

0800 028 1969.

Pubs will be drawn each month on the dates shown below to receive the ABCQ training and will be notified by telephone.

A suitable date will be arranged for the training to take place at your convenience.

For the chance to win £500 towards

pub improvements or the ultimate prize

of having your rent paid for one year,

again, go to www.caskforce.co.uk, or call 0800 028 1969.

Draw dates

8 April, 13 May, 10 June, 8 July.

MARCH Winners

Stage one - ABCQ training winners

David Riley, London Hotel, Southampton; Malcolm Johnson, Old Crown, Wigginton, Staffordshire; Tim Robinson, Rose & Crown, Perrywood, Selling, nr Faversham; Susan Carr, Britannia Inn, Darlington, Co Durham; Barbara Haigh, Grapes, Limehouse, London; Stewart Pease, Red Lion, Heytesbury, Warminster, Wiltshire; Tom Longfellow, Rose & Crown, Charlbury, Oxfordshire; Shaun Waters, Norman Warrier, Lowerstoft, Suffolk; Tracey Andrews, King Billy, Kidderminster, Worcestershire; Denis Horgan, Angel, Oundle, Northamptonshire; Jeremy Westcott, Bell Inn, Buckland Dinham, Frome, Somerset; Laura Hydon, Black Horse, Nassington, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire; David Brench, Falcon Inn, Denham Village, Middlesex; Samantha Richardson, Red Deer, Sheffield, South Yorkshire; John Thwaite, Ram Inn, Bussage, Stroud, Gloucestershire; David Rye, Swan Inn, Hoxne, Eye, Suffolk; Peter Clark, Pheasant Inn, Keswick, Cumbria; Paul Batten, Newfield Inn, Seathwaite, Duddon Valley, Broughton-in-Furness, Cumbria; Angela Hargreaves, Red Lion, Blackburn, Lancashire; Geoff Wheating, Fleur De Lys, Yeovil, Somerset.

Stage two - Cask Marque winners

Susie Majuvadie, Boot Inn, Repton, Derbyshire; Brian Allan, Pavilion, Kings Heath, Birmingham; Philip Cartwright, Cherry Tree, Catthorpe, Leicestershire; Stuart Robinson, Bridge Inn, Sandycroft, Deeside; Simon White, Old Quay Inn, Devroan, Truro; Dan Tasker, New Delight Inn, Blackshaw, Yorkshire; Des Richards, Sedgley WMC, Dudley, West Midlands; Andy Allan, Rainbow Tavern, Kendal, Cumbria; Anthony Windle, Three Crowns, Brinkworth, nr Chippenham, Wiltshire; Dan Saunders, Pelican, Pamber Heath, Tadley, Hampshire; Joesph Holland, Wayfarer, Stone, Staffordshire; Ann McIlwinn, Red Hart, Misterton, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire; Gordon Flinn, Sun Inn, Prescot, Liverpool; Neil Smith, Bay Horse, Catterick Village, North Yorkshire; John Glover, Belle Vue, Papcastle, Cockermouth, Cumbria; Jim Harrower, Coach & Horses, Horsley, Derbyshire; Darren Hunt, Flower Pot, Bedford; Chris Goudie, Cottage Tavern, Ashorne, Warwick, Warwickshire; Frank Evans, Compasses Inn, Bayson Hill, Shrewsbury; Steven Greenhalf, Plough Inn, Galgate, Lancaster.

Stage three - BBPA Gold Award

Rob Denny, Hinds Head, Heaton Chapel, Stockport;

Rob Gaoter, Hillary Step, Whalley Range, Manchester; David Cox, Anchor Inn, Lower Morton, Thornbury, South Gloucestershire; Carl Warburton, Barn Owl Inn, Lymm, Cheshire; Les Allmark, White Hall, Tywyn, Gwynedd; Neil McCulloch, Royal Oak, Fritham, Hampshire; Hadrian Stross, Plough, Woking, Surrey; Gary Laight, Gate Hangs Well, Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove; Jannine Clarke, Holly Bush, Church Broughton, Derbyshire; Richard Taylor, Three Horseshoes, Morley, Derby.