Pub industry accreditation body Cask Marque will be promoting its Beer & Cellar hygiene ratings to consumers in the New Year – and is advising pubs to ‘clean up their act’ in preparation for an influx of more hygiene-aware drinkers.
Around 7000 UK pubs currently have a 4 or 5 star Beer & Cellar Hygiene rating, which is calculated against 11 key markers from the cellar to the beer glass, then awarding one to five stars, similar to food hygiene ratings.
Cask Marque aims to have at least 30,000 4 or 5 star rated pubs by the end of the decade.
The consumer campaign launching in early 2027 will encourage beer drinkers to check their chosen pub’s rating online before they visit.
Cask Marque will also be raising consumer awareness of star ratings displayed outside pubs.
The Campaign for Real Ale is also including pubs’ hygiene ratings on its own pub search website.
Director of Cask Marque, Paul Nunny, said: “Beer quality should be at the heart of every pub’s offer, but that’s not always the reality.
“The initial trial for out Perfect Pint Promise beer quality scheme showed that nearly half of pints served in UK pubs fail to meet basic standards, and that customers who are disappointed either switch brands or switch pubs.
“That, in itself, should make both pub operators and brewers sit up and take notice.
“However, as well as customers voting with their feet after a disappointing pint, high cellar and dispense standards have a direct impact on yields and beer quality,” said Nunny.
“Our analysis shows that improved cellar practices improve beer yields by 10%. With the budget adding more cost on pubs, including the minimum wage increase, this is a way that pubs can directly improve the bottom line.
“Quite simply, pubs with a 4/5 star cellar rating are making more profit from beer sales,” he insisted.
“Just as many customers wouldn’t go out for a pizza or burger without checking the business’ food hygiene, once the consumer awareness campaign gets underway, many will make similar decisions based on the Beer & Cellar Hygiene rating.”
The four main area where pubs fall short of required hygiene and beer quality standards are – cellar temperature; glassware condition and cleanliness; line and coupler cleanliness; and cleanliness of glasswashers.
