Pubs across the country are ready to welcome holidaymakers from across the UK as airport chaos and price rises on foreign family holidays see people opting to stay closer to home.
With almost 50% of international tourists choosing to visit a pub on their trips to the UK, pubs are seeking to showcase their international draw to UK holidaymakers, with diverse food menus, newly renovated accommodation, and great British hospitality.
Even before the pandemic hit and people couldn’t travel far, pubs across the UK were a hugely popular destination of choice for UK holidaymakers. In 2019, Brits took 1.7bn day visits, 50m of which were to a pub. This generated £2bn for the economy each year.
Now, post-pandemic and with warm weather on the cards for the forseeable future, pubs are hoping for a resurgence from the British holidaymaker. They want the public to know they’re ready to welcome them with more than just a nice cold beer.
Kevin Georgel is chief executive of St Austell Brewery, which owns more than 170 pubs across the Westcountry. He said: “People can see the pub as a place for a pint and nothing else, but that couldn’t be further from reality.
“We’re really proud to serve our beers in our pubs, but we’re also proud to offer menus teeming with locally sourced ingredients and classic Westcountry fare, in stunning locations that need to be seen to be believed.
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“Over the past two years, we’ve really invested in our accommodation for overnight guests, too. If people are travelling a few hours, by car or train, we want to make it easy and enjoyable for them to make the most of their staycation and give them a memorable experience.
“There are so many elements which make Great British pubs the perfect boltholes for relaxing and exploring new areas across the UK.”
Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, added: “We’re all feeling the pinch at the moment, with rising costs all around us, but us Brits don’t need to spend money on travelling far because we are lucky to have a world-renowned cultural institution on our doorstep.
“We’re encouraging people to get out and explore the UK, and head for pubs not only for a pint, but to eat and stay as well. And if you need some inspiration on where to go, stayinapub.co.uk showcases pubs with accommodation in beauty spots across the country, from the Highlands to the Cornish coast.”
