How Does Your Local Score For The World Cup?

The World Cup is a great opportunity for Harpenden’s pubs to generate some extra cash. It’s a once in a four-year window to get extra punters through their doors, high on the excitement and drama of the match, with money ready to spend on food and drink. But what will make your local a more attractive place to watch than the next pub or a mate’s house?

The journal of the pub trade, The Publican, reports that it has joined forces with the UK drink’s industry analyst, the Wilson Drinks Report (WDR), to commission a survey to find out what factors would encourage consumers to go to the pub to watch games.

The survey of over 2,000 people, conducted by YouGov, revealed that of those surveyed, 63% are planning to watch the World Cup and of those 59% would consider watching it in the pub. These figures though rise dramatically amongst young spenders, with 84% of 18–34 year old males and 90% of 18-24 year old women happy to watch in the pub.

So listen up Harpenden’s Publicans, according to the results of the survey, the following are the five most influential factors to pull in the punters, listed in order of importance:

• special offers on beer, wine and spirits

• multiple big screen TVs

• special offers on food

• free snacks

• special/reserved seating

It’s unsurprising that consumers are looking for a deal on drinks as their number one priority with most of the major supermarkets running aggressive price promotions on beer in the build-up to the World Cup. But landlords who respond with promotions, which are viewed as too enticing for punters risk being deemed as irresponsible. Extras like pre and post match entertainment  may also help boost trade. But at the end of the day, isn't atmosphere a key factor too?

Which Harpenden pub will you be supporting during the World Cup? And why? What factors are most important to you?

Publicans, what promotions are you planning to pull us in with during the World Cup?

Finally, there are 37% of you out there, who won’t be tuning in to the World Cup. So what sort of refuge from the football would you like to see Harpenden’s pubs give you? And Landlord's, how will you be catering for the non-footie fans?