Brits drive good food in pubs

Brits are abandoning their local pubs and taking to the roads in their hunt for good food, a new study has found.

The research reveals that for many Brits the ‘local’ is no longer local, with under a third of those polled (29%) admitting their regular drinking spot is the pub round the corner.

While just 15% eat at their local pub, two thirds of those questioned admitted good food was a reason for choosing a pub. Nearly half (44%) of those who regularly eat out in pubs drove over ten miles for guaranteed reasonably-priced, good food.

Although only nine per cent of drivers eat at a pub when going on a long journey, two thirds (66%) said they would if they knew where to go.  However, a quarter of people still eat at motorway services stations, with munching a sandwich in the car park a preferred option for most drivers (33%).

Eighty per cent of all British pubs now serve food, serving nearly 1.1 billion meals last year - a rise from only half during the mid nineties.  The average pub now gets more than 25% of its turnover from meals.

The research was compiled by insurer Privilege which has launched a new Gastro Pub Guide today.

James Gore, a spokesman for the company, said: “With so many great gastro pubs out there serving great food at reasonable prices, we are seeing the return of the weekend drive, as more and more people travel further afield to try out new places.”

Privilege website >>

Market snapshot, pub food >>

Market snapshot - gastropubs >>

By Emily Manson

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