Taking ale to new heights
The first tranche of winners have been announced in Marston's CaskForce quality initiative - which is back for a third year. The pioneering scheme, run in-conjunction with the MA, gives licensees the chance to grow their cask beer offer through the BIIAB-accredited Award in Beer & Cellar Quality (ABCQ) and a raft of other prizes.
Each month, 20 pubs will be selected from a draw to receive the training free (ABCQ) in their outlet - along with a further 360 nominated by Marston's freetrade and national sales teams. Those who have completed the course go through to round two, where another 20 pubs will win Cask Marque accreditation.
Stage three will see 10 hosts receive the Beautiful Beer Gold Award plus £500 to invest in their business. From these outlets, one pub each month will go through to the grand final, where one MA reader will scoop the ultimate prize - their rent paid for a year.
The first draw took place on January 15, and the next will happen on February 12.
To take part, simply go to www.caskforce.co.uk or call 0800 0281969.
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'll be 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 0281969. 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 rent paid for one year, again, go to www.caskforce.co.uk , or call 0800 0281969.
Draw dates
15 January, 12 February, 11 March, 8 April, 13 May, 10 June, 8 July.
JANUARY WINNERS
Stage one - ABCQ training winners
Martin Colvin, Black Lion Hotel, Cardigan, Ceredigan Steve Cranshaw, Red Herring, Chorley, Lancashire Wayne Parkes, Highcroft, Wolverhampton David Brown, Dovecote Inn, Laxton, Nottinghamshire N Hastings, Wooden Walls of Old England, Northampton, Northamptonshire Pat Keogh, Feathers, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire Sally Grieves, Two Brewers, Shaftesbury, Dorset Martin Bradley, Bulls Head, Barston, Solihull Lyn Day, Golden Fleece, Elland, West Yorkshire Sarah Hargreaves, Bridge on Wool, Wadebridge, Cornwall Claire Bignell, Farmers Bar, the Kings Head, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire David Chantler, Lion O' Morfe, Bridgnorth, Shropshire Kevin Maidens, Blue Bell, Bolsover, Chesterfield Neil Rodgers, Generous Briton, Loughborough, Leicestershire Roy Savage, Dog & Duck, Beverley, North Humberside Ian Perry, Cottage, Norwich, Norfolk Michael Hartley, Robin Hood, Driffield, East Yorkshire John Holloway, Horns of Boningales, Boningale, Shropshire Chris Nicholson, White Hart,Duffield, Derby Karen Jones, Old Bell, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Stage two - Cask Marque winners
Esme Woolley, Kings Arms, Matlock, Derbyshire Paul Ferguson, Masons Arms, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Derek James Owen, William Webb Ellis, Rugby, Warwickshire Jordan Dicks, Slaters, Baldensgate, Newcastle-under-Lyme David Forster, Grey Horse, Elvington, York Mike Hitchens, Trevelyan Arms, Goldsithney, Cornwall Terry Kent, Spring Head, Hull, North Humberside Norma Ketlley, Anchor Inn, Worcester Alan Parks, True Briton, Ashmoor Park, Wolverhampton Shaun Piercy, Royal Oak, Hoole, Chester Jill Crookes, Thorntree Inn, Waingrove, Derbyshire David Turnbull, Blue Boar Inn, Norwich, Norfolk Dave Talbot, Simple Simon, Warwick Diane Price, Spa Hotel, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Brian Penkethman, Miners Country Inn, Coleford, Gloucestershire Peter Jenkins Three Tuns, Christchurch, Dorset Mark Hawksworth, Haven Arms, Hull, East Yorkshire Richard Higgs, Commercial, Workington, Cumbria Sue Raines, George & Dragon, West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire Karl Henschel, Last Inn, Church Aston, Shropshire
Stage three - BBPA Gold Award
Nigel Maud, New Inn, St Owen's Cross, Hereford Aaron Calder, Royal Oak, Laskam, Hampshire Richard Hogg, Church House, Sutton Lane Ends, Macclesfield Steve Addis, White Lion Inn, Matlock, Derbyshire Jo Gillespie, Bank at Sale, Sale, Cheshire Glenn Miller, Borough Arms, Lymington, Hampshire Conrad Sturt, Half Moon, Windlesham, Surrey Russell Camp, Wheatsheaf, Thornbury, Bristol Emma O'Connell, Cottage Inn, Haxby, North Yorkshire Kyle Macray, Royal Oak Inn, Appleby in Westmorland, Cumbria
