If we were in any other country except for the UK, the very notion of this argument would be astonishing.
You serve drink in a bar or cafe and you serve food. Imagine going for a drink in Spain without tapas or in a beer in Germany without a vast array of hot sausages. It is unimaginable.
For years the conventional wisdom has been food equals sales increases and profits. We all know the arguments - the drop in beer sales due to the smoking ban can be mitigated by attracting families, couples and single women who desire a more sophisticated offering.
But the British pub has always been a spiritual home to fine food. From Bettie's Hot Pot in the Rover's Return to a fine Sunday roast in a country pub. Not serving food in a British pub or bar is just the same as not having a pint of Newton and Ridley's and just as harmful to your bottom line.
However this week a debate hosted by the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) gained majority backing from pub and bar operators for the motion that if they want to make a profit they need to forget food.
Those swaying the argument in favour of forgetting food included Peter Hansen, principal of financial advisors PC Hansen & Co: “The supply is going to exceed demand quite soon and unless everyone starts to have four meals a day I don’t see how it’s going to work”.
Investment remains a key concern, with cash-strapped pubs unable to afford skilled staff or invest in training for existing employees.
Earlier this year Capital Pub Company revealed that they could make higher margins on wet-led pubs simply through the reduction in over-heads having 'less' skilled staff brought.
Those in favour of food as just as vocal though, including Dan Marlow, operations director of value food at Spirit, who wisely argues that the future is in food is because women make the choices.
Joking aside, consumers are becoming more sophisticated and have more choice. The more they travel and experience food from abroad the more they will want to eat it in this country. If pubs deny themselves the chance to take a share of this market their profit margins will look very low indeed.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this debate, so please feel free to add them below.
