MUSIC VENUE WINS BEER QUALITY AWARD

A Hull pub and music venue is celebrating winning a national beer quality award with an on-stage jamming session – and few pints of perfectly-kept Pedigree.

The Spring Head licensee Andy Joplin has won himself and his pub a place in the CaskForce grand final in September when he’s in with a chance of getting his rent on the Wolfreton Road pub paid for a whole year.

Andy, a multi-retailer who trades with business partner Ian Pawson under the name The Winking Beaver Pub Company, said: “I have introduced the CaskForce beer quality awards into all our eight pubs in Hull because I think it’s fundamental to running a successful business.

“It’s important for all staff to learn about cask ale.  Cask ale drinkers are a discerning bunch and it matters that staff know something about it.

“The same can’t be said for lager.  You learn Foster’s is from Australia – then discover it’s actually made in England.  There’s no depth there, and there’s really no expectation or need to know anything.

“But with cask ale, understanding the process is paramount.”

As well as the Marston’s Pub Company-owned Spring Head, the pair also run two sports bars, two village pubs in nearby Cottingham, another Marston’s Pub Company pub near the football ground, as well as two estate pubs.

The Old Zoological in Princess Avenue is a sports bar in Andy’s portfolio that’s owned by Punch that is also well on its way to earning the Cask Marque, along with the Cross Keys and the Black Prince in Cottingham.

“When you take on a pub,” Andy said.  “You need to take a judgement on two things: whether it needs fitting out and if you need to send your managers for courses in cellar management.  Both of these things are essential.”

Andy’s pubs around Hull all have very different clientele.  But in each instance, Andy feels the basics are the same: high quality ales and proud of it.

“The fact that you get a little plaque to put up at the front of your pub shows you are going forward and that you have standards – whether you get this or not depends on outside judges, so it’s a true reflection of what you put in.

“It’s also a good accolade at a time when a lot of licensees can’t really be bothered.  It shows you are willing to go the extra mile.”

The Spring Head’s staff – including manager Mark Knaggs – all went on the ABCQ course, achieved Cask Marque accreditation for the pub, as well as the Beautiful Beer Award and £500 to put towards pub improvements.

“We’ve had some music photographs framed,” explained Andy.  “The money will go towards that.”

The venue sees a mixture of AC/DC and Black Sabbath tribute bands as well as a regular mix-up night for younger bands hoping to get a moment in the limelight.

“We get a real mixture of age groups and tastes here.  But it keeps the place buzzing and alive and brings in new people all the time, who will hopefully come back and bring their mates in for a pint of real ale.”

CaskForce is a beer quality initiative run by Marston’s in conjunction with the MA.  Andy will now go forward to the grand final on September 28 at the Parkway Hilton Hotel with six other finalists.

Return to the news page