The top 10 best ideas for... students

1 Go local

Use the start of the new term to introduce newcomers to the local beers and food. Freshers' Week is the ideal time to organise an event at your pub that offers something slightly different to the usual cut-price promotions. Talk to your brewery about any special deals they might be able to offer you and try to get hold of any additional point of sale (PoS) material, such as T-shirts, that you might be able to give away.

2 Get cooking

Being away from home, students always appreciate a home-cooked meal. Continue the regional theme and draw up a menu linking local ales to local dishes. Price is also going to be a factor, so use cheaper cuts of meat to make hearty dishes such as lamb hotpots using locally sourced vegetables and lamb. Students missing Mum's cooking will appreciate the thought.

3 Creative offers

Hitting the books is thirsty work so students are always up for a pint. But instead of resorting to cheap-drink promotions, try offering deals on food instead. Not only will a hearty chip butty fill a gap between lectures, a buy-one-get-one-free offer will help save those pennies and keep them coming back for more.

4 Theme nights

Continuing the food theme, try and increase the mid-week food trade with 'curry and a pint night' or fish and chips. One price for a drink and some grub can be student-focused by offering it to NUS cardholders only. Drop a few posters around campus and keep things fresh by asking students who visit the pub regularly to suggest dishes they would like you to theme a night around.

5 Thinking inside the box

Now they're fed and watered their intelligent minds need something to do. Football, rugby, Pop Idol or Neighbours: they love their TV. Get the big matches on and publicise dates and times on campus. Remember to keep the locals happy and ask your young patrons to keep the noise down after the game. Again, running food specials to tie in with big matches is a definite winner.

6 Win them over

Are lots of pubs close to campus up to the same tricks? Students are a loyal bunch, so try winning their hearts and wallets with loyalty cards. These could be used for free food, drinks, snooker or give them a guaranteed seat for the popular Sunday roast.

7 Supplier power

Talking of freebies, why not phone your supplier and ask for some free point of sale kits? Students love freebies, especially for brands they drink, and it would make a great incentive. Organise a quiz night or pub sports competition offering the goodies as a prize. How about offering WKD merchandise to tie in with events or a Boddingtons pack for the winner of a table football championship?

8A home from home

Attract students to your pub by keeping it cosy, warm and friendly. Students want to meet new people so a comfy area to socialise in is a must. Don't assume all they drink is pints: offering a good selection of soft drinks is also important. Boost coffee sales by specialising in serving the best cappuccino around. Internet access is a great way to keep your students, especially if it's free. You could offer them 15-20 minutes with each coffee or sandwich they buy.

9 Party planning

Let's face it, all students love a good party. Use your imagination, from karaoke or live music to open mic nights or student plays, but keep a structure to the night. If it's successful, it could become a key part of your events calendar.

If you have a beer garden, end of summer barbecues are always a winner as a large number of meals can be sold with minimum effort.

You could also offer a function room or corner of the pub for private hire for college societies or sports teams and devise a budget-minded set menu for them. If it's a special night, how about concocting a team cocktail to celebrate a home win or end-of-year game?

10 Transport links

Finally, for those of you off the beaten student track, why not entice them to come and visit with free transport to and from campus? Ask around for deals on a minibus or with local taxi firms.

A good place to get advice is

from the Student's Union. They may also give you free publicity to help drive awareness of the service.

Tell us your tips

Have you come up with a novel way of stopping students swiping your glasses or ashtrays?

Let us know by e-mailing rosie.davenport@william-reed.co.uk