Regulars shun the pub in favour of coffee shops

The research from IPA TouchPoints, the advertising and marketing body, found that between 2010 and 2017, almost 1.3m consumers were no longer going regularly to pubs and bars, marking a 17.5% decline.

The number of consumers visiting a pub or bar at least once a week significantly decreased from 10.3m consumers in 2010 to 9.03m in 2017.

This decline was apparent among younger customers aged between 15 and 24, with over almost 12% fewer of them visiting bars or pubs today (1.5m) v 2010 (1.78m).

However, the coffee shop sector was booming over the same period.

The research also found more than 3.6m more adults are going to coffee shops in 2017 than they did in 2010. This marks a 49.2% surge in the popularity of coffee shops. 

The number of consumers visiting a coffee shop at least once a week had significantly increased from 6.25m consumers in 2010 to 9.9m in 2017. This increase was even greater for 15 to 24-year-olds, with over 80% more of them visiting coffee shops today v 2010 (1.6m v 910,000). 

“These figures bring into sharp focus the extent to which café culture has taken over. With cafés providing a safe, social space, and often offering free Wi-Fi, is it any wonder that their popularity is soaring for individuals, families and professionals?” said Sarah Golding, IPA president and CEO.   

“At the same time, however, the cost of alcohol in supermarkets v pubs and bars makes it hard for pubs to compete for consumers’ finances and free time.”

Between 5,000 and 6,000 people aged 15 and older filled in a half-hourly e-diary through an app on their phone over the course of four weeks to compile the survey data.