Pubs to invest in the kitchen

Pub food is more important for licensees than ever before, with nearly half planning to invest in their kitchens in the next year.

According to the Market Report 2003​, 42 per cent of publicans are planning on splashing out £1,000 or more on their kitchen, up from 37 per cent last year.

It means that investment in kitchens is now at the same level as investment in the bar area and proves that pub food is more important for trade than ever.

Investment in the kitchen of a pub shows that licensees are taking their food offer seriously and are determined to make it pay.

The Market Report​, available on thePublican.com from Monday, discovered that on average food sales now account for a third of a pub's total turnover, so publicans that are choosing to invest in their kitchen will almost certainly reap the rewards.

Another area earmarked for investment by a quarter of licensees is the restaurant. Interestingly the trend towards food being served in every area that has become commonplace over the past few years seems to be changing, with a five per cent increase in the number of publicans choosing to invest in a separate restaurant area.

This could be for a number of reasons but whatever the motivation for these licensees, it once again proves that food is growing in importance for pubs. In fact, the increase in restaurant areas shows that pubs are taking food more seriously than ever by investing not only in the kitchen but in the service area as well.

Oddly enough though, there is a big drop in the numbers of licensees choosing to invest in health and hygiene. Just 14 per cent of publicans are planning to spend more than £1,000 in this area in the coming months, dropping from a quarter of licensees last year.

With licensees being inspected regularly by environmental health officers this lack of investment in hygiene training and other health measures, is a worrying trend.

There is no point in investing in a food offer if the support is not there. After all, an outbreak of food poisoning or a damaging health inspection can badly damage trade, no matter how much money has been invested in a restaurant area or the pub's kitchen.

The Market Report 2003 is available on the site from Monday, but if you order it now, you can get 25 per cent off. Click here​ to find out more.