THE old adage of a pub being all spit and sawdust couldn’t be further from the truth for modern pubgoers.
New research shows that seven in 10 customers think the garden is a pub’s most appealing feature, with country pubs being best.
The Chef & Brewer Collection conducted the survey, finding that when it comes to what makes a beer garden great, beautiful landscaping was the most important element according to 18% of respondents, followed by having ample amounts of greenery (15%) and picturesque views (14%).
Classic country pubs are the top choice (39%) for customers, followed by wine bars (18%), cocktail bars (15%) and city pubs (9%).
Similarly, despite the wide variety of drinks on offer in most pubs, beer remains the UK’s top choice, with nearly a third of people surveyed (27%) opting for a pint when relaxing in a beer garden. The next most popular option was red wine (20%), followed by cider (11%) and white wine (11%).
Heather Moore, senior marketing manager for the Chef & Brewer Collection said: “A good beer garden really is make or break for a pub, especially considering the fantastic weather we’ve had in recent weeks.
“We’re incredibly proud of the amazing outdoor spaces we have in our pubs across the Collection.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re after a quiet evening drink or a relaxing al fresco dining experience, we’ve got something for you.”
To celebrate the great outdoors, the Chef & Brewer Collection is launching a national #mypubgarden competition, where customers can win a two-night stay in a Chef & Brewer Collection hotel, and enjoy dinner and a bottle of prosecco on one of the evenings.
To take part, all customers have to do is head to their local Chef & Brewer Collection pub, such as Ye Olde Leathern Bottel in Wokingham, and The Shire House in Littlewick Green, and take a picture or video of themselves enjoying the pub’s beer garden.
Entries must use the hashtag #mypubgarden and tag the pub’s location too.
For more details, log on to: https://www.chefandbrewer.com/find-us/