Pubs gear up for British Roast Dinner Week

Licensees are planning a range of promotions to capitalise on British Roast Dinner Week, which takes place from 29 September to 5 October.

The Sunray in Osmington, Dorset, will be opening all-day every-day to offer a carvery. Last year, it increased its sales of roast dinners by 44% during the week by offering ‘around the clock’ carveries instead of just in the evening.

Customers at the Enterprise Inns pub were also buying extra drinks during this period, helping the Sunray to boost its bar sales by more than £1,000.

Steve Mansbridge, licensee at the Sunray, said: “It’s a great event for pubs to get involved with as it makes you work that bit harder to get things right. When an event like this comes along it’s beneficial for everyone.”

Seven-day roast

Licensee Colin Ombler from Enterprise pub the Bell Inn, in Welford upon Avon, Warwickshire, will be highlighting the pub’s craft of creating roasts using only local produce and ingredients.

Usually only serving a roast on a Sunday, the pub will offer two daily roasts – one white meat roast and one dark meat roast – during British Roast Dinner Week, which Ombler feels will work for the customers.

“Every now and then a customer asks if we are doing Sunday roasts on a weekday so we will officially be doing a seven-day roast throughout British Roast Dinner Week. I think it will work from a selling point of view and there’s bound to be someone who comes in during the week who has never tried our roasts,” said Ombler.

Traditionally, the pub serves rib of Hereford beef, loin of pork, lamb and turkey on Sundays and the pub will be showcasing the best of what it has to offer throughout the week.

The week is backed by Unilever brands Knorr Gravy and Colman’s.

“We’re on a mission to get pubs and restaurants up and down the country to shout about their roasts – not just on Sundays, but every day of the week,” said Chris Brown, channel trade marketing manager at Unilever.