STAFF at a Pendle leisure club are celebrating after scooping two top awards for the quality of their ale.
Anthony “Burni” Burniston, who runs Rolls-Royce Leisure in Barnoldswick, has been awarded Cask Marque accreditation for serving the perfect pint of cask conditioned ale, as well as achieving Carlsberg UK’s coveted Gold Award for licensees with high product standards.
It was Burni’s idea to introduce cask ales into the social club not long after he was appointed as club manager, just over three years ago.
He said: “We are over the moon at receiving this recognition. We take great pride in the quality of our beer. It’s nice to be recognised for the hard work we put into maintaining our cellar and giving our customers an excellent product. To me there is nothing more gratifying than hearing a customer comment, ‘Eh that’s a good pint’.”
Backed by 45 of the country’s leading brewers and pub companies, Cask Marque accreditation is only awarded to licensees whose ale passes a series of rigorous independent beer quality audits.
Cask Marque director, Paul Nunny, said: “Rolls-Royce Leisure should feel justifiably proud of this excellent achievement, which not only recognises the effort they put into serving the perfect pint but also acts as an independent guarantee of quality for customers.
“All too often, publicans don’t appreciate the care and attention cask beers require and then run the risk of losing custom by serving pints that are below par.”
Jeff Acton, Trade Quality Manager for Carlsberg, who inspected the club said: “I was very impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm displayed by the team. Their product quality was first-rate and their cellar management and hygiene is exemplary and shows in a fine glass of beer. Rolls-Royce Leisure is one of only two outlets in East Lancashire to receive the Gold Award so it is definitely somewhere I would be happy to enjoy a pint.”