Cheers

Budvar's top Marques

During a visit to Budweiser Budvar's brewery in

Southern Bohemia, Cask Marque's Annabel Smith was deep in the cellars with Budvar brewer Ales Dvorak, designer of the highly-

successful Budvar Dark. "Being in the heart of

darkness was really great," says Smith, the UK's only fully-qualified female beer inspector. "The Budweiser Budvar brewery is a model brewery - I gave full marks to everything I tasted. And Ales told me there is nothing like the Cask Marque scheme in the Czech Republic, so there may be an opportunity for us". But when Smith asked Dvorak how a Czech pub's management would respond to criticism of their cellar management or beer quality, he informed her that they wouldn't hesitate to throw her out.

Out to Africa

Hairy punter Chris

Lucking has agreed to have his head shaved for charity at Surrey's Willoughby Arms in Kingston-upon-Thames later today to raise money for a Tanzanian school. And teacher Cathy Pugh from Tolworth Girls' School in nearby Surbiton will devote a year to raising funds to build a classroom in the African country. Visit www.justgiving.com/AfricanClassroom​ for more information.

Walk on the wallside

Union Pub Company (UPC)

operations controller Anthony Sharples and UPC buddy Terry Sutton walked the length of Hadrian's wall to raise funds for the Marie Curie cancer charity. The pair raised £1,600 by completing the 84-mile walk in three and a half days. "We had to visit a hospital to combat Sutton's terrible blisters, but it didn't stop him!" Sharples said. "We want to thank W&DB staff and all our supporters."