Food drives pub visits for 46% of customers

20-May-2014 - Last updated on 21-May-2014 at 09:43 GMT

The quality of food and service are the most important factors for consumers when choosing a pub

One in five UK adults visit the pub weekly and food is becoming more important for people choosing to visit the pub, according to a report called Pub Visiting UK published by food and drink research firm Mintel.

The report shows that declining alcohol consumption, fuelled by health considerations, plays a part in falling pub visits.

The quality of food and service were identified as the most important factors for consumers when choosing a pub to visit, with 46% of pub goers naming high-quality food as an important offering for pubs.

'Times have changed'

“Times have changed for the pub industry and publicans should be carefully working out how to tailor their food menus, for example by using local ingredients and tiering prices to their customers to stave off competition from other pubs and restaurants,” said Chris Wisson, senior drinks analyst at Mintel.

Live sports on TV screens are now seen as something ‘nice to have’ instead of a ‘must have’ attraction for pub visitors.

Likewise, the cleanliness of toilets and appealing facilities are also being seen as ‘nice to have’, rather than essential to pub visitors.