Area Ales Check: Bar and Cellar Quality Audit

This Area Ales Check is a hospitality checklist for pubs and bars to maintain ale quality from bar to cellar. It covers first impressions and POS, pump clips, tasting notes, and price visibility; bar hygiene including clean taps, swan necks, beer engines, brass, and glasswashers; glassware condition and placement for speed of service; cellar standards such as cooler settings 7 to 8 C for dispense, conditioning temperature 11 to 13 C, line cleaning, equipment maintenance, stock rotation and BBF dates, pest checks, and general tidiness. The CAT test verifies clarity, aroma, taste, head size, pour technique, dispense temperature, and head retention. It also reinforces staff knowledge, pre shift briefings, and keeping Real Ale Finder and WhatPub listings up to date.