British holidaymakers urged to visit pubs

20-Jul-2022 - Last updated on 20-Jul-2022 at 15:36 GMT

Sinking pints for summer: Brits urged to go to the pub

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) is urging Brits to visit pubs as part of their staycation this summer, with warm weather set to continue after this week’s heatwave.

Almost half of international tourists choose to visit a pub on their trips to the UK, and pubs are seeking to showcase their international draw to UK holidaymakers with diverse menus and renovated accommodation.

Even before the pandemic hit, UK pubs were a hugely popular destination choice for national holiday makers. In 2019, Brits took 1.7bn day visits, 50m of which were to a pub. This generated £2bn for the economy each year.

Now, pubs are hoping for a resurgence from British holidaymakers as the summer holidays continue and weather gets warmer.

Making memories

St Austell Brewery chief executive Kevin Georgel said: “People can see the pub as a place for a pint and nothing else, but that couldn’t be further from reality.

“We’re really proud to serve our beers in our pubs, but we’re also proud to offer menus teeming with locally sourced ingredients and classic Westcountry fare, in stunning locations that need to be seen to be believed.”

Georgel, whose brewery owns more than 170 pubs across the Westcountry, said St Austell had invested in accommodation for overnight guests across the past two years.

The goal was to make it easy and enjoyable for guests to make the most of their staycation and have a memorable experience after they’d travelled for hours by train or car.

Perfect places for relaxation

“There are so many elements which make Great British Pubs the perfect boltholes for relaxing and exploring new areas across the UK,” Georgel added.

The call from pubs comes as data revealed the average cost of a family holiday abroad has rocketed across the past few months, with everything from car hire to accommodation jumping in price.

BBPA chief executive Emma McClarkin said: “We’re all feeling the pinch at the moment with rising costs all around us, but us Brits don’t need to spend money on travelling far, because we are lucky to have a world-renowned cultural institution on our doorstep. 

“We’re encouraging people to get out and explore the UK, and head for pubs not only for a pint but to eat and stay as well.”