The classic British pub has been given a miniature makeover, as Vocation Brewery launches The Wandering Inn.
It’s a pint-sized travelling tavern designed to celebrate Britain’s love of bold and flavourful brews, while also rallying support for local pubs under pressure.
Standing 5’ 5” tall, the functional pub popped up in Manchester, serving its distinctive pints to passers-by. This was the start of a journey, bringing the best of independent British brewing to locations nationwide.
The launch coincides with the release of Vocation Brewery’s Beer Census, a major study of 2,000 adults that reveals changes in how, when, and why we drink.
Among its standout findings, the study revealed that 74% of Brits feel major brewers are over-represented in pubs, with 79% agreeing that a wide range of beers on tap would make them visit their local more often.
Nearly 70% of drinkers say they have discovered a new favourite beer or style in the past 12 months, with more than eight in ten (81%) saying they would pay slightly more for a pint if pubs offered more variety on the taps.
Elsewhere, the beer audit discovered that despite the rise of hybrid working and ‘thirsty Thursdays’, Friday remains the biggest day for a post-work pint. Over half (54%) say flexible working hasn’t changed their pub routine, with the classic Friday night pint remaining in top spot.
On average, Brits now visit the pub just 4.1 days a month — a stark reminder of the challenges facing the hospitality sector. More than one in five (21%) say they are drinking less, which grows to almost a quarter (24%) among 18- to 24-year-olds.
A growing number of drinkers say the big brand experience feels tired, with 30% of drinkers saying mainstream lines are predictable and uninspiring. Nearly 44% of 25- to 34-year-olds say they’d visit pubs more often if they could try new and distinctive brews, suggesting that curiosity and discovery are now important influencers in the choice of the modern pint.
“The findings show Britain’s beer lovers want more choice, more flavour, more adventure — and so do we,” said Gail Lumsden, chair and chief executive at Vocation Brewery.
“Beer should be an experience — something that engages you, stays with you, and invites you back. At Vocation, we’ve always believed in bold flavour, and it’s great to see drinkers calling for more discovery and excitement.”
Vocation will now using its mobile pint-sized pub, The Wandering Inn, to bring the spirit of discovery to various locations across the country, starting this winter and continuing throughout next year.
