There was a time when every British town had at least one pub. You could barely walk down the road without seeing a handful of lovely pubs full of customers. Sadly, those times have changed. More and more pubs are closing down every year, leading many to believe this is a dying industry.
It’s not pretty viewing – especially if you’re a pub owner! How can you keep your small business afloat during these difficult times? It’s all about understanding why most pubs close and how to avoid making similar mistakes.
On that note, here are the three biggest factors influencing the latest wave of pub closures:
Customers Get Terrible Value For Money
Did you know the average price of a UK pint is £4.79? Incredibly, that’s risen by over a pound since 2020. Part of the reason for this is things like Alcohol Duty and tax rates, though there’s an element of greed, too.
It’s got to the point where customers feel like they’re being robbed. Who wants to pay nearly a fiver for a pint?! You will only keep your pub afloat if you prove to customers that they get great value for money from your prices.
Keep your prices as low as possible while ensuring you make a profit. Then, invest in higher-quality technology to improve your drinks. Use John Guest fittings to deliver a better pint from your taps and stock a load of good-quality brands people will be interested in trying. Show customers that your prices are worth it, and they’re more likely to stick around.
Pubs Aren’t Providing A Good Enough Range Of Drinks
It’s been many years since a pub could get away with serving beer and a few other drinks. People like trying new things – and drinking habits have changed dramatically. You need a collection of spirits and wines to give customers a wider choice of options. This is more likely to draw people through your doors and keep them coming back for more.
Lots of pubs failed because they didn’t adapt and kept serving a small selection of drinks. Make sure you have things like alcohol-free drinks as well; the UK population drinks less alcohol now than it has in the last 25 years!
People’s “Going Out” Habits Have Changed
Lastly, pubs close down because they can’t cater to modern consumer habits.
Fewer people nowadays just go to the pub for a pint. Instead, they visit pubs for food and entertainment. If you’re not offering food or entertainment, you could be deterring many customers.
A few elements worth considering to attract customers include:
- A food menu: Serving meals at your pub is one of the most effective ways to attract customers.
- Carvery: A carvery can reduce the need for waiting staff and be another great way to get customers in.
- Quiz nights: Organising a regular quiz night is a great way to attract groups of people.
- Karaoke: You could consider a karaoke set up for bar as an affordable and interactive form of entertainment.
- Live music: Inviting local musicians and bands to play could help you to generate more business.
- Pool tables/dart boards: Pool tables and dart boards can be another reliable way to draw customers in.
- Sports TV viewing: Showing sports events on TV can be great for attracting sports fans
Kids play area: More pubs are going family-friendly – a kids play area is a great way to make your pub more welcoming for families.
There are, of cause, nuances to the great pub decline in the UK. However, you needn’t feel like your small business is doomed. Pubs can still survive and thrive, you simply need to see where others are going wrong.