Spirit are smoothie operators

Fresh fruit smoothies and ice cold frappes are now on the drinks menu at selected Spirit Group pubs.

Sixty pubs in cities across the country will be the first to receive the special smoothie machines, and there are plans to introduce the innovation to other divisions during the next 12 months.

Pubs are seeing a growing trend for healthy snacks and beverages in pubs, and catering for a new breed of customer passing through pub doors as the realities of the smoking ban kick in.

In a first for the estate, Spirit has invested in the highest quality smoothie technology to produce real fruit drinks which are free from concentrate, added sugar or flavourings.

The smoothies and frappes are made solely from whole pieces of fruit-frozen to lock in the freshness - and mixed up with ice to produce the best flavour.

Smoothies are available in strawberry and banana, mango and strawberry and

raspberry and blueberry flavours while the three frappe flavours are mocha,

coffee and vanilla.

Staff in the pubs will receive the necessary training on site to use the drinks machines, which are designed for simple operation and maintenance, and once the equipment is installed, bar staff can expect it to run smoothly.

Jeremy Hipkiss, marketing director at Spirit Group, said: "Many pub customers who choose not to drink alcohol are crying out for delicious fruit-based beverages which aren't packed full of added sugars.

"Non-alcoholic drinks, such as our new smoothies and frappes, provide a delicious alternative to the usual soft drinks on offer at the bar, and furthermore, they often carry a price premium.

"To capitalise on the opportunities in the pub-based soft drinks market, Spirit has worked closely with the supplier to develop the right package of equipment for the job. The finished product is healthy, refreshing and ideal for summer drinking."