YOUNG PIPPA KNOWS HER ALES

In spite of her young age, 22-year-old pub manager Pippa Dods understands the importance of serving cask ale in perfect condition.

And her efforts have already paid off - The Swan in Abbey Barn Road has just been picked as the monthly winner to go through to Marston’s CaskForce grand final in September when it is in with a chance of getting its rent paid for a whole year.

Pippa said: “Ale drinkers are a breed apart.  They really care whether the beer is in good condition – and will tell you when you serve them with a good pint.

“Ale is what England is famous for.  It’s part of our heritage.  I firmly believe we need to give it the attention it deserves and bring it to a younger audience to take the tradition into the next generation.”

Pippa plans an ale-sponsored pool tournament – that will attract the younger audience she is keen to recruit - as well as enlisting the help of her local CAMRA branch.

She said: “A lot of younger people have never ever tasted proper ale.  Whenever I ask them to try it, they are always pleasantly surprised.  I know I was.

“I’ve found the best approach is to speak to your regulars, ask them what beers they want, and what taste, aromas, qualities, abvs they like. 

“I’ve found some like a milder, lower abv for afternoon drinking if they are watching a match – while others prefer something with a bit more of a kick if they are out in the evening.”

Pippa took on the self-employed manager’s role on behalf of multiple operator Sweeney Pubs after she graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in drama and film studies.

“I worked in the pub trade in my holidays and loved it.  So I asked if there were any training opportunities or vacancies because I knew it was a business I wanted to get in to,” she said.

She now runs the Enterprise-owned pub as well as overseeing The Exeter Hall in Oxford for Sweeney Pubs.

Sweeney Pubs director Dave Burr said: “Wow!  Pippa has done a great job making sure the pub qualifies for the Beautiful Beer Gold Award – and helping us get through to the final.

“She’s got bags of enthusiasm and she’s really passionate about cask ale.  It’s the only growth area in sales at the moment – and one of the only drinks you can get that you can’t buy for half price in the supermarket.

“Her energy has rubbed off on her staff.  Cheers to Pippa – and cheers to CaskForce!”

The Swan is a wet-led pub that serves two regular cask ales and one guest ale.  It has the Cask Marque beer quality award and has won the Beautiful Beer Gold Award plus £500 to put towards pub improvements.

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

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