Pubs raise the bar for dining out

The public house: it’s as quintessentially British as Buckingham Palace.

So, it is no surprise that some of the UK’s most loved eating out brands fall in the pub and bar category. Leading the pack this year are Miller & Carter, Toby Carvery, and Wetherspoon, all of which make the Top 20. However, as our annual report proves, retaining these positions is never guaranteed.

Whilst Toby Carvery and Wetherspoons have climbed up the rankings this year (Toby Carvery +5, and Wetherspoons +2), Miller & Carter has been less fortunate, dropping from 9th to 14th position. It’s a similar picture for the innovative and experience-led brand, The Alchemist, which has dropped from 30th place in 2023, to 43rd in August of this year.

What influences our love for these brands and differentiates the winners from the losers?

To answer this question, it helps to look closer at those brands experiencing some of the most commendable movements up the leaderboard. Brands such as Vintage Inns, O’Neill’s, and Ember Inns have climbed 59, 42, and 39 places, respectively. Data from BrandVue tells us that consumers are increasingly choosing them for both the quality and price of their menus. With their traditional pub décor, whether Irish or British, these pubs provide an ambient setting for a casual dining experience, but with a more mid-range price point, while still being special enough for a treat or celebration occasion.

By comparison, Miller & Carter and The Alchemist, which offer more premium dining experiences, are struggling to demonstrate a competitive advantage, with both brands witnessing drops in preference year on year. There’s generally less Buzz surrounding these brands than we’ve seen previously in BrandVue. Indeed, The Alchemist has experienced declines across many associations that have historically defined the essence of the brand, with perceptions like cool, fashionable, stylish, lively, and quirky all on the decline.

Not so long ago, this was a point of difference for The Alchemist, but with drops in newness associations and its more premium position, the novelty appears to have worn off, and visits for treat and celebration occasions have dropped back.

It would be wrong to assume that only the more premium pubs and bars have fallen down the leaderboard this year. Harvester and Stonehouse Pizza and Carvery have also experienced drops, falling 24 and 21 places, respectively. For both brands, their position as affordably priced dining experiences has made price increases more noticeable, with perceptions of good value and affordability currently in decline.

All of this suggests that the middle ground, occupied by the likes of Ember Inns, O’Neill’s, and Vintage Inns, is currently a more secure place to be. But it isn’t just about price. Eating out brands where value, quality, and experience are cohesive, where they slot seamlessly together, are where Brand Love is strongest.

The challenge is finding the right mix!