Cask Marque pubs serve a better pint, survey shows

82% of Cask Marque pubs passed the quality beer test carried out by Cask Marque, which assessed the temperature, appearance, aroma and taste of the venue’s cask ales, compared to a 51% pass rate for non-accredited pubs. All of the cask ales on offer at the pubs had to pass the test for the venue to pass.

The statistics were collated after 49 assessors tested 200 Cask Marque pubs, and then assessed the pubs next door.

'Rigorous'​

“It is a rigorous test so we expect there to be failures among some of the Cask Marque pubs”, said Cask Marque director Paul Nunny. “If a Cask Marque pub fails, the assessor will visit a month later and do the test again to determine whether the pub can keep its Cask Marque status.”

The accreditation and training provider also found that Cask Marque pubs received higher food hygiene ratings, with 87% achieving four or five stars, compared to just 67% of non-accredited outlets achieving the same standards.

Beer sales​

Cask Marque pub beer sales were 3% higher than non-Cask Marque pubs over the past year, according to further analysis from Vianet. On average Cask Marque beer sales were made up of 31% of cask ale, compared to 18% in non-cask marque pubs. They also sold less standard but more premium lager.

Nunny said: “Taken in context with the overall market, cask is still gaining market share and this only confirms how good retailers are achieving their success.”

There are 8,600 licensees with the Cask Marque award.