Not necessarily G... if you're in as a tenant, you can pick a good pub yourself, just got to know what you can make work and what you can't. I've taken part in the 'pub selection' process 3 or 4 times now, and going on what I've seen, you get a gut feeling about whether you can make it work or not. Spend a few nights in there as a customer etc.

And Sludge : no . It takes about 5 pints to learn how to pull it perfectly if you've half an ounce of common sense about you, even a particularly finicky bitter/pump.

And there is a shitload to be said for having the Area Manager on-side. If you can convince them that you're willing to give 110%, rather than just 'run' a place, they'll fall over themselves to help you, as a rule. A helpful AM can make a massive difference.