Pub operators push ahead with January food and drink promotions

Pub operators are pushing ahead with food and drink discounts throughout January as they look to attract customers into their sites during the post-Christmas period.

The PMA reported yesterday that JD Wetherspoon had extended its annual promotion until the end of the month and re-introduced its food discounts, whilst raising the lowest prices for drinks.

Other operators running promotions throughout January include Stonegate, which is offering 50% off food until 13 January for parties of up to four people at its Slug and Lettuce outlets.

Meanwhile, Whitbread is running discounts at its Table Table and Taybarns branded outlets.

Customers will be entitled to 50% off their total food bill on any weekday until 18 January at Table Table pubs.

The same discount will apply from 6pm on weekdays at Taybarns sites, and will run until 31 January. Customers will also get £5 off at weekends when spending £20 and a family meal deal offers two adult meals and two children’s meals for £17.99 weekdays from 6pm.

Six-strong south London operator Renaissance Pubs is offering customers a third off their food bill until 31 January as part of its '13, Lucky For Some' promotion.

The offer is valid for lunch and dinner on weekdays at the Avalon, the Rosendale, the Stonhouse and the Tommyfield and from Monday to Friday for lunch and Monday to Wednesday for dinner at the Bolingbroke and the Abbeville.

Spirit Pub Company’s Fayre & Square brand is also running a competition for families who didn’t have the best of Christmas Days, or missed out all together. The winner will receive £1,000 cash as well as a family meal at their local Fayre & Square pub.

It comes as publicans reported a strong Christmas period with former BII Licensee of the Year Phil Davison describing December as his “best ever month” at the Sun in the Wood, Ashmore Green, Berkshire, which he has run for over 16 years.

Gerry Price, of the Inn @ West End in Woking, Surrey said he had a good level of trade throughout December but added that it wasn’t massively different from 2011. “It was on a par with last year,” he said.

Mitch Adams of the Thatcher’s Arms in Mount Bures, Essex also reported having a “pretty good” Xmas.