Pubs turning to bring-your-own-food to boost revenues

Half & Half Lounge Bar in Croydon, south London, has just linked up with its local Domino’s Pizza to offer food to its customers. The private leasehold serves snacks but not full meals and wants to draw more people into the pub during the day.

Customers can order pizza, which costs £12 for any size as part of the deal, from 12noon Sunday to Thursday, and until 7pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

“We approached Domino’s as we don’t do food and wanted to attract more people in throughout the day,” said general manager Tom Neza. “It is very early days but quite a few people have ordered them already. It is hard to keep track as it is all done between the customer and Domino’s.”

Domino’s manager Samantha Berries said: “It started this week but we believe it will be very good for us.” Domino’s staff deliver pizzas to the bar and plenty of flyers are available for customers to read. The bar also encourages customers to bring in their own lunch between 12noon and 3pm and buy a drink at a 10% discount.

Paul Backman, director of services at foodservice data experts Horizons, said: “The appeal of going out purely to drink is lessening and people want to save money. Hosts are thinking creatively. Those who can are offering good-quality food and those who can’t are looking at other methods.”

The Star in Dorking, Surrey, does not have a kitchen but has found a “clever way of cheating” by opening up the pub for customers to order in any takeaway or bring their own food. The pub provides the plates and even offers its bar phone to make the calls for takeaways.

The Bootlegger in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and the Beer Tree in Henley, Oxfordshire, boast the same offer.