10 ideas for...female pub attractions
Sheila McWattie looks at ideas to give women what they want from your menu
Local flavour
"A lack of seating and cleanliness and poor music choice put women off visiting their local pub," says Kristy McCready, communications partner at BitterSweet Partnership, set up by brewer Molson Coors to change beer's reputation and its relation-ship with women.
"However, one-third of women visit a pub at least once a fortnight and nearly three-quarters opt for their local, with food being one of the key reasons.
"With one in five women preferring beer at the pub and 8% wanting a wide choice of beers, how about recommending beers with dishes and publicising tantalising details about your offer, rather than just naming ales on your blackboard?"
"We're not asking licensees to paint the walls pink or use potpourri. If you want women to dine at your pub, create a more welcoming, fresher environment with better seating and a great choice of beers."
Welcome break
Norfolk's Hunny Bell, near Holt, is close to two schools and champion chef Andy Snowling noticed that mothers enjoy meeting for lunch before collecting their children.
He says: "Our 'Ladies, Do Lunch!' offer costs £10.50 for a main and glass of wine on Wednesdays, including meat, fish and vegetarian options. We always have six to eight dishes on the menu and change at least one dish a week. The whole menu changes over six to 10 weeks.
"Any men wishing to come along are equally welcome. We have people of all ages and backgrounds enjoying the offer, including walkers.
"Our menu has included rare roasted Stody Estate Aberdeen Angus sirloin of beef salad with shaved Parmesan, horseradish crème fraîche & sautéed potatoes; and steamed Morston moules marinière with white onions, garlic, parsley, double cream and freshly-baked bread."
Ale and hearty
It's all about quality and choice, says Cask Marque's national account manager Annabel Smith: "When women are choosing to eat in a pub, it's worth remembering that 72% of
Cask Marque-accredited outlets achieve other accolades — for their food, wine, accommodation, service and standards. Glassware in Cask Marque pubs is always inspected.
"They are encouraged to offer cask-ale sampling to help customers decide, and some of the best now offer beer in third-pint glasses, providing excellent opportunities to try out beer with food. Cask ale is a drink to be savoured in a sociable environment, so the pub that takes ale seriously is likely to have a good atmosphere and feel safer to women.
"Cask Marque pubs train their staff on styles and flavours of beer, so recommendations around dishes on the menu are likely to be available."
Natural networking
Since taking over the Inn at Farnborough, Oxfordshire, 10 years ago, Jo and Anthony Robinson have provided a welcoming place for women to drink or dine alone or in a group.
Jo says: "There are some pubs where you feel comfortable as a female alone and some where you don't. Our popular Ladies' Dining Night for two or more ladies on Tuesdays offers half-price house wine with our prix-fixe menu (£8.50 for one course; up to £13.95 for three).
"Following its success, we are hosting several ladies' networking groups for lunch and dinner, such as Banbury Women in Business Network and a Banbury group known as 'Ladies that Lunch — and Men Too!' due to be launched soon."
Menus are tailored to groups' needs and numbers vary from six to 40 at £10 to £25 per head, depending on menu and service requirements.
Tell it like it is
Beer expert Melissa Cole, whose book Let Me Tell You About Beer is published this August, says: "I welcome all-comers to the beer industry and run diverse events, but many women have become so disenfranchised by the traditionally sexist marketing, that women-only events in an enjoyable, friendly environment are necessary to encourage women's meaningful connection with beer.
"Women are getting into great beer through breweries such as Otley and events such as the free women-only launch of the Bunch of Grapes Beer Academy, which enable access to food-matching, innovative and interesting beers and a contemporary image.
"Education with a healthy dose of humour and irreverence boosts confidence in trying their own combinations. I've started Barley's Angels, a women-only beer-tasting business, which is really gathering pace."
FemAle friendly
Two sisters from Normandy, Vanessa and Sabine Letort, run Charles Wells' Somers Town Coffeehouse, a bistro pub in Camden, north London, where authentic French food meets the traditional English pub and women are very welcome.
Last year the sisters hosted a FemAle day as part of Cask Ale Week's bid to encourage women to try ale. "About 50 women attended," says Vanessa. "We wanted women to know we take them seriously: we provide a safe, welcoming space, which they can see through the large windows before they enter; our toilets are spotless and staff are trained to ensure that women on their own or in groups are never approached inappropriately. Our platters and Mediterranean salads are particularly popular with women."
See www.caskaleweek.co.uk for this year's events.
Sparkling addition
The Crown, at Woodbridge in east Suffolk, is a boutique townhouse inn, well frequented by ladies attracted to its destination dining and stylish drinking. Ten designer bedrooms offer an indulgent escape from the buzz in the glass-roofed bar and four intimate restaurant areas.
Chef-patron Steven David says: "Prosecco on draught from a chrome counter-mounted tap has been a distinct success, with many women taking their Italian fizz to the table and ordering more for the meal. Our eclectic 90-strong wine list is user-friendly, with more than 20 served by the glass.
"The cosmopolitan cooking and long relaxed menu suits the varied needs of a busy clientele. Food sections such as on toast, shellfish, spork food (innovative dishes in pasta bowls with a spoon/fork combo implement) and starters in two sizes offer lighter dishes to those seeking an informal bite."
The gentle touch
"From the beginning we've wanted the design and concept of Drake & Morgan venues to appeal to women," says multi-award-winning managing director Jillian MacLean.
"Our female diners are very important to us: we've designed all our venues with delicate touches and employed lots of female staff to make them feel welcome and provide a comfortable environment, whether they visit with friends or on their own.
"Our food menus are ideal for girly get-togethers and we have a range of 'skinny' cocktails and punches for sharing, each serving less than 100 calories.
"Introducing flower shops to our bars is popular with our female diners, who want to have a browse before going back to the office. And we've made the 'Something…' pop-up boutique permanent at the Folly [at Monument, London]; its luxury beauty products and home-ware are a big hit with the ladies."
Special mothers' days
Adam Holland, manager of the Old Dairy in north London's Crouch Hill, noticed that daytime trade lacked regular custom and energy. "As people search for affordable housing, this area has become more popular with young couples and families," explains Holland.
"Now mums can meet here, chat and enjoy lunch in a friendly environment with an area designed for babies who are not yet mobile.
"The club runs every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from midday to 5pm, offering a lighter, price-conscious menu, including smaller examples of evening dishes, such as sausage & mash for £7 instead of £10, plus free soft-drink refills.
"We've plenty of unused daytime space and run the club with minimum disturbance. Trade has increased by £100 to £200 per day, with 10 to 20 mums coming in." Birthdays, christenings and parents returning for evening meals generate extra business.
Whet their appetite
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