Pub group survey reveals customer preference.
British attitudes towards pubs in 2017 have evolved to encompass current social trends whilst retaining classic British traditions, including the discovery that craft beer & ale is now the top tipple of choice within the West Midlands.
When given the choice between having a wide selection of craft beer & ales, gin, whisky or soft drinks behind the bar, residents overwhelmingly voted in favour of craft beer & ales with a majority of 70%, and almost two thirds (61%) would choose to enjoy their pint with British television royalty, Sir David Attenborough, over Her Majesty the Queen.
The survey, conducted on behalf of Nicholson’s Pubs who operate The Shakespeare, Bacchus Bar and the Old Contemptibles in Birmingham city centre, also discovered that, despite social media feeds being flooded with shots of the newest food trends, people still chose to opt for more traditional British dishes. Fish & chips and Steak & Ale pie both won the popular vote with 42% each, with residents choosing this classic dish over current health-led trends such as a quinoa salad, which garnered 3% of the vote.
Although British tastes have remained traditional, reasons for visiting the pub have shifted in this increasingly digital world, with almost two thirds (60%) of respondents from the West Midlands stating the top reason they would pop into a British pub in 2017 is for free WiFi.
Seeking social kudos on Facebook also proved popular with 17% of people choosing to visit a pub so that their friends know they’re out and about by checking in at a traditional British pub.
Will Prideaux, operations director of Nicholson’s Pubs comments; “It’s great to find out that the people in the West Midlands are still opting for great British dishes such as the traditional Fish & Chips and Steak & Ale pies, but it’s also interesting to see how pubs have adapted to digital trends have changed over the years. The discovery of just how much more popular craft beer & ales are in comparison to other drinks, was an interesting revelation, and we’re listening to this demand with a great selection of craft beers & ales stocked behind our bar, including our very own Nicholson’s Pale Ale.”
Other stats revealed that for residents in the region, the best thing that can happen in a British pub would be to get served first, which gained 31% of the vote, whilst finding an available seat or table missed the top spot with 30% opting for this.