Cross Guns, Westhoughton, Bolton

Licensee Colin Wells has tripled volumes at this community pub since he and a member of his staff gained their ABCQ certificates through the CaskForce scheme.

"As a result of that training we've improved our cask beer considerably — to the degree that we were turning over nine gallons a week and we're now doing nearer 27," says Wells, who runs the Admiral Taverns outlet with his wife, June.

The next step is Cask Marque accreditation, as soon as work in the cellar is complete. When the couple took over last December, sales were in decline and the cellar was in desperate need of an overhaul.

Wells admits that, while he's not a cask-ale buff, his efforts behind the scenes are well reflected in the figures for cask and in feedback from customers. So far he's seen a 20% increase in turnover — a margin he's confident will grow.

The Cross Guns' regular cask drinkers have been key to developing the pub's range, says Wells, helping to select the regularly changing regional and local ales.

"By working with them we're building quite a good reputation for cask ale, and Bolton Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) is interested in the pub."

What's more, plans are in progress for the hosts' first beer festival, which they plan to hold in the pub's family-friendly garden on the August Bank Holiday weekend.