The UK pub and bar industry experienced huge implications as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, however the market has bounced back over the last couple of years. Mintel’s UK Pub Visiting Market Report 2023 examines the key drivers for this recovery, as well as providing detailed insights into what consumers want and why, and recent innovations and opportunities for the UK pub market.
Below, we’ve handpicked the key insights analysed in the full report and summarised the core topics.
Key Issues Covered in this Report
- The impact of the cost of living on the pub industry.
- How pub visiting rates and spending habits have changed over the past few years.
- Factors that encourage consumers to choose one pub over another.
- Pub goers eating and drinking preferences, including the rising popularity of low/no-alcohol drinks.
- Launch activity and innovation in the pub industry.
UK Pub Industry – Current Market Landscape
Pub visiting sits at the heart of British culture, and after a difficult period caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the market is expected to reach its highest ever value in 2023. This has been driven by increasing food and drink prices, as well as an increase in pub-going consumers. However, it is not all good news for the UK pub market, a turbulent economy and knock-on effects from the pandemic have resulted in a continued decline in pub numbers.
- UK pub market size: The UK pub industry is expected to increase by 4.8% in 2023, and Mintel forecasts that steady growth will continue over the next five years to 2028.
Pub Visiting – UK Consumer Trends
- Almost nine in 10 adults visit pubs, although this remains slightly behind 2019 levels.
- Over eight in 10 Gen Zs drink at pubs and bars, despite growing up more sober-curious than their older counterparts.
- Over two-fifths of pub goers would like to see snacking menus in pubs, highlighting that the cost of living crisis is continuing to have an effect on consumer spending power.
Purchase our full UK Pub Visiting Market Report 2023 for a complete analysis of the pub market, consumer demands, and our experts’ recommendations for major growth opportunities during difficult economic times.
Expert Analysis from a Leisure Analyst
This report, written by Jennie Bryans, a leading Travel & Leisure analyst, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis to highlight current trends in the UK pub market and add expert context to the numbers.
Pubs remain a cornerstone of British culture; however, consumers continue to demand menu innovation with snacks and sustainable dishes high on their agenda.
Jennie Bryans
Travel & Leisure Analyst
Collapse All
-
Executive Summary
- Key issues covered in this Report
- Opportunities for the pub market
- Market dynamics and outlook
- Graph 1: pub and bar industry market size, 2018-23
- What consumers want and why
- Graph 2: pub/bar visiting to eat or drink, 2023
- Graph 3: motivations to visit a pub/bar, 2023
- Graph 4: drink preferences at pubs/bars, 2023
- Graph 5: menu options at pubs/bars, by age, 2023
- Innovation and marketing
-
Market Dynamics
- Market size
- Graph 6: pub and bar industry market size, 2018-23
- Market forecast
- Market share
- Macro-economic factors
- Graph 7: GDP, 2021-23
- Graph 8: CPI inflation rate, 2021-23
- Graph 9: “Have you been affected by any of these issues over the last two months? Please select all that apply.”, 2023
- Graph 10: CPI 12-month rate change and wage growth, 2020-23
- Graph 11: financial wellbeing index, 2016-23
- Graph 12: financial confidence index, 2016-23
- Social, environmental and legal factors
-
What Consumers Want and Why
- Frequency of visiting pubs and bars
- Graph 13: pub/bar visiting to eat or drink, 2023
- Graph 14: pub/bar visiting to eat or drink, 2023
- Graph 15: pub/bar visiting to eat or drink, by time of day, 2023
- Motivations to visit a pub/bar
- Graph 16: motivations to visit a pub/bar, 2023
- Graph 17: motivated by wide range of non-alcoholic drinks, by generation, 2023
- Graph 18: motivated by innovative food menu, by household income, 2023
- Spending at pubs/bars
- Graph 19: spending on food at pubs/bars, 2023
- Graph 20: spending on drinks at pubs/bars, 2023
- Drink preferences at pubs/bars
- Graph 21: consumers drinking only alcoholic-drinks at pubs/bars, by age, 2023
- Graph 22: alcoholic drink preferences at pubs/bars, 2023
- Graph 23: non-alcoholic drink preferences at pubs/bars, 2023
- Menu options at pubs/bars
- Graph 24: menu options at pubs/bars, 2023
- Graph 25: menu options at pubs/bars, by age, 2023
- Behaviours relating to pubs/bars
- Graph 26: behaviours relating to pubs/bars, 2023
- Graph 27: I would pay more for sustainable food options at pubs/bars, by age, 2023
-
Innovation and marketing trends
- Launch activity and innovation
-
Brand Research
-
Appendix
- Market forecast data and methodology
- Report scope and definitions
- Methodology
Market Intelligence Made Easier With Mintel
The first Mintel Market Intelligence report was published over 50 years ago. Since then, we have provided our unique insights and understanding of consumers, innovation and global markets to thousands of customers worldwide. Here’s why our customers rely on Mintel:
- Gain a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the market: Mintel reports blend consumer research, market forecasts, product innovation tracking, and competitive analysis, allowing businesses to see every angle of their industry and identify new opportunities quickly.
- Make decisions with confidence, grounded in robust data: Each report draws on up-to-date, reliable information from trusted sources and industry experts, ensuring your strategies are based on solid evidence rather than speculation.
- Benefit from expert analysis and practical recommendations: Mintel’s reports are written by experienced analysts who interpret complex data and provide clear, actionable insights you can trust to guide your next moves.
- Stay ahead with actionable intelligence on market trends and consumer behaviour: By combining fresh research with long-term market monitoring, our reports help businesses anticipate changes and adapt strategically. So you’re prepared to make informed decisions and drive growth.
What goes into a Mintel Market Intelligence Report?
Curious about how a Market Intelligence report comes together? We like to think of it as building a detailed puzzle. We start with individual pieces: data from consumers, market statistics, industry trends, and online conversations. Then our expert analysts add world-class human insight and industry knowledge. The pieces are assembled to reveal a clear, comprehensive picture of a market.
The Four Pillars of Our Research
We use a combination of four main research methods when creating our reports, each adding a valuable perspective:
- Consumer Research: Direct surveys with real people, giving us clear, current insights into what people think and do.
- Desk Research: In-depth review of trusted data sources. We use this rich database, plus powerful internal tools that track new products and market sizes, to detect trends and guide forecasts.
- Trade Research: Insights from conversations with industry experts. Their real-world experience helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
- Brand and Social Media Research: Analysis of online opinions and trends. This lets us spot trends, measure brand sentiment, and capture feedback in real time, adding further depth to our research.
Bringing It All Together
Each of these four pillars provides a different piece of the puzzle. Consumer research tells us what customers think, desk research provides the factual framework, trade research offers an insider’s view, and social media analysis reveals public sentiment.
Our expert analysts are skilled in weaving these diverse data streams together. They apply a range of quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques to uncover the deeper story, connecting the dots to deliver clear, actionable insights. This comprehensive, multi-layered process is how we transform raw data into a market intelligence report you can trust to inform your most important business decisions.
For a closer look at a Mintel Market Intelligence Report, take a look at the sample PDF report below:
Please Note: All of the figures, graphs, and tables in this sample report have been redacted.
£ 2,195 (Excl.Tax)
-
Download today with instant access
Pay via credit card or invoice (net 30 payment terms)
-
Multiple formats provided
We send a PDF, Powerpoint and Excel Databook straight to your inbox. An interactive version of the report is also available on our online platform
-
Interactive databook included
Focus on the data that matters most to you with a customisable databook avaliable on our platform
Next Starts Here
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.
Learn moreTrusted by global industry leaders
Working in a customer-obsessed organization means that data and insights have to be at our fingertips. Mintel’s reports help us support anecdotes with real quantifiable insights. The summary sections (which I really like) helps save time by giving a birds eye view of the content before spending time combing through the pages.
Our business review discussions are strengthened by the relevancy of the reports to help us better understand our customers. In addition, the customer service received from the team (especially in crunch periods) makes the process of understanding customer behavior even better.
Ngozi Ngonadi-Nkwoji, Senior Marketing Manager, Amazon
Mintel is really good for getting a handle on a particular category quickly. If we are working on a new business pitch in an area we don’t have much experience in, it’s a brilliant way to get up to speed with what’s going on, what’s changing and what the key trends are in any category.
It’s very rare now that anyone will plough through a 200-page report – that’s why the summaries are really useful. We know they are backed up by a lot of detail, so if you need to go into something in more depth you know the information will be all there for you.
Pauline Robson, Managing Partner, Mediacom
We’ve found it so useful working more closely with Mintel. They helped support our recent flagship event for our top suppliers by providing a really unique viewpoint on the future of online retailing.
Nick Carroll from their Retail Team was also an excellent panelist, sharing useful and actionable consumer insights. We definitely look forward to working with Mintel again on future projects.
Zac Steele, E-Commerce Trading Development Manager, Waitrose & Partners
When I’m investigating specific sectors I tend to use Mintel reports for their forecasting, which I’ve always found to be very accurate.
They also offer really broad and deep coverage in their reports. They are very, very detailed. For example, we were able to gain insight across a wide range of business areas from just one report, proving that Mintel is excellent value for money.
So overall, it’s the level of detail and the quality of forecasting that really stand out for me.
Rebecca Green, Market Insight Manager, Wincanton
There is no question that Mintel is the go-to resource for the best quality market research, but I did not think it was an affordable option for Abacus Marketing to consider. As a small marketing agency, we only work with a few new clients each year.
However, we have a very high-end consultative approach to our work, so we really do need a partner like Mintel to provide the big agency experience we are always aiming to deliver. Our clients come from an incredibly diverse range of industry sectors, so we obviously need access to market research reports from a very wide spectrum of marketplaces – and that is precisely what we got.
Stephen Taylor-Brown, Managing Director, Abacus
Next Starts Here
Whatever your business needs, we have the solution. From market intelligence reports to customised growth strategies.
Learn more
