It’s no secret that the key to running a successful pub is to give your punters what they want. Whether it’s a new beer on the market that everyone’s been asking after, or the right theme or ambience for your typical audience, making a few changes to your pub or bar can make all the difference in how your customers respond to your business. 

According to the Pub Show (also known as Pub21 this year), the way people drink is changing. Over 86% of consumers care about whether a pub invests in its local community, and at least 8 million people taking steps to moderate their drinking, making the process of running and maintaining a pub just that little bit more complicated. However, most will agree it’s all worth it in the end and we’ve taken a deeper look into the statistics to see just what punters are expecting from pubs in 2020.

Tech, Or No Tech?

In this day and age, there’s no better or more pressing place to start than with technology. From the ability to order from your table, to the entertainment on offer,  it appears that there’s quite a contradiction in the market. It seems to be a 50:50 split for those that want technology in their pubs, and those that would prefer things to stay traditional. Finding that balance is the real key, which isn’t always easy but is still very possible. A TouchTunes Jukebox, for example, adheres to both the traditional and the modern; Those who that want tech can benefit from a smooth and sleek touch screen experience either from the machine itself or from the mobile app, while those wanting to keep things traditional can benefit from the easy-to-use interface and coin-operated nature that gives them access to traditional pub classics.

How About The Food?

In terms of food, this is another grey area for pubs. This will differ entirely on your theme and typical demographic, but one finding that the Pub Show did discover, was that 22% of punters felt that locally sourced produce was important, which blends back with the 86% of consumers that wanted their local pub to be involved with the community. Interestingly, around 15% of consumers also wanted food to be seasonal, with a similar amount wanting the food to cater to all kinds of dietary needs, including vegetarian and vegan diners. 

For this reason, offering a menu that hits all of the touch points above is important to creating a comfortable and popular dining experience within your pub. Whether you serve up traditional pub grub or are seafood-focused, as long as things are fresh, locally sourced and can cater to a wider variety of dietary needs, you could please a larger number of punters.

Focus On Ambience Before Sport

Popping down to the pub for a pint and a sports game up on the big screen has been a longstanding tradition amongst football, rugby and general sporting fans alike. However, you might be surprised to know that only 5% of punters actually felt that sporting events were important to their pub visits. Instead, atmosphere, interior design and decent outdoor space were more highly ranked in terms of importance with good background music sitting just behind. Live music was also considered to be a draw. 

Knowing what your punters want in particular will all depend on the typical audience you attract. Traditional family pubs should focus on a friendly, cosy or even fun atmosphere to keep both kids and parents entertained, while pubs that typically attract students could benefit from a more exotic drink selection or themed nights, particularly during Fresher’s Week.  

Events also prove popular and are a great way to drive people to your pub during slower parts of the week. You could host wine or beer tasting events, cocktail nights, happy hours, gaming events such as snooker or arcade-focused, food tastings or any other event that could attract your local community.

When it comes to giving your punters what they want, the ultimate key is to pay attention to them. What kind of audience does your pub usually attract, and what kind of things would they expect to find when they enter your pub? From installing a digital jukebox in your pub for your customers so they can set the music themselves, to introducing new drinks to the menu or events to the schedule, the possibilities are endless. 

For more information about our profit-share jukeboxes for pubs and clubs, feel free to get in touch with a member of our team, today.