Britain's Pubs Now Sell More Food Than Beer

For the first time ever, Britain's pubs are now selling more food than beer, the Daily Mail reports.

According to data compiled by Mintel, 72 percent of Britons visit a pub for its food menu, versus 63 percent who visit for a drink. Special menu promotions have enticed diners, which offer more adventurous food than they typically would eat. At the same time, value-priced meal deals have also resonated strongly with consumers.

Overall, pub visits and alcohol consumption has dropped significantly in Britain, as 2009 saw the biggest nationwide drop in alcohol consumption since 1948. Consequently, the number of pubs throughout Britain dropped from 59,000 to 52,000.

Helen Spicer, senior food analyst at Mintel, offered this advice: "Pub food has had to adapt and now bar snacks and menus have become more variable from value ranges to more up-market offerings. For some venues, catering has become more important than serving a pint."


According to Mintel, the consumer leisure market has changed dramatically in recent years, with an emphasis on spending time at home leading to greater competition in the dining out market.

"Add to the mix cheaper and more accessible alcohol from supermarkets, the recession, rising tax and duty and a smoking ban and the pub sector has faced what has been dubbed the perfect storm," Spicer said. "The question is not whether the pub industry emerges unscathed from the recession it's too late for that but how it will absorb punishing tax measures and emerge to compete in a leaner and more 'consumer-centric' pub environment."