There’s a narrative that younger people have fallen out of love with pubs.
But this week, the data tells a different story.
Young people still want pubs.
So if that’s true…
...why does the industry feel under more pressure than ever?
👥 1. Young People Still Want Pubs — Just Not the Same Way
A new piece from Beer Today challenges one of the most repeated assumptions about modern pub culture.
The key takeaway?
- Around 44% of young people say they’ve met new people at the pub
- 34% of 18–24s visit pubs specifically for activities like quizzes, live music, and sport
That’s not disengagement.
That’s a shift.
The pub is still working as a social space — but increasingly as a destination, not just a default.
💬 2. The Pub Experience: QR Codes vs the Bar
This week also saw renewed debate about QR code ordering in pubs.
Tim Martin of Wetherspoons argued that app ordering removes the “banter at the bar” — and with it, part of the pub experience.
There’s a tension here.
Because Wetherspoons were also one of the biggest adopters of app ordering during COVID.
It worked. It solved a problem.
But now?
The question has shifted.
If people — especially younger drinkers — are going to pubs for:
- connection
- atmosphere
- interaction
Then the bar isn’t just functional.
It’s part of the experience.
And that’s something I’ll be looking at in next week’s video on queuing in pubs — whether it’s friction… or part of what makes a pub feel like a pub.
📉 3. April Reality: Costs Are Rising Again
Behind all of this sits the real pressure point.
April has landed — and with it, another wave of cost increases.
This includes:
- A 4.1% rise in the National Living Wage
- Business rates changes
- Additional regulatory pressures
For many pubs, these aren’t future concerns.
They’re happening right now.
So you end up with a clear tension:
🍺 4. Beer Response: Back to Basics
While pubs navigate that pressure, brewers are quietly adapting too.
A theme emerging from this year’s BeerX and wider industry discussion is a renewed focus on:
Which makes sense.
If pub visits are becoming more intentional…
The beer has to fit that experience.
Not overwhelm it.
🎧 Media Pick: The BrewDog Deep Dive
If you want a deeper industry perspective this week, the Morning Advertiser podcast is worth your time.
They’ve done a detailed breakdown of the BrewDog situation — well worth a listen if you want context behind the headlines.
🍻 Final Pint
So what does this week tell us?
Not that young people have abandoned pubs.
They haven’t.
But they want them differently.
And at the same time…
👉 pubs themselves are under more pressure to deliver that sustainably.
So maybe the real question isn’t:
👉 Do people still want pubs?
It’s:
👉 What kind of pub actually works now?
🎥 Watch the Video Version
If you’d prefer to watch this breakdown, the full Friday Pint episode is now live on YouTube.
And if you enjoy this kind of content — pubs, pints, and places — consider subscribing.
Comments
Post a Comment