Dear customer…
A very warm welcome to the summer edition of Headlines! As we move towards the holiday season, with fine weather hopefully continuing and longer evenings there is a huge opportunity to boost trade in your venue.
The summer of sport sees the Lionesses’ quest for glory in the Women’s Euros from 2nd to 27th July and your chance to increase footfall and sales during the key matches.
There is also the roar of the British & Irish Lions
versus the Wallabies, which will no doubt provide some high intensity battles perfect to show on your big screens. The Tour de France runs from 5th to 27th July and the British Grand Prix on 6th July. For the golf fans The153rd Open at historic Royal Portrush takes place 17th to 20th July.
Make sure you maximise your profits during all the big sports fixtures by keeping chillers and back bars fully stocked with all the popular summer drinks. Don’t forget to
meet the surging demand for low & no alcohol drinks and include some premium options.
The last Summer Bank Holiday of 2025 on 25th August is also a major focal point for sales and families. So stock up for summer and get organised well in advance, taking advantage of the fantastic deals in Headlines!
Here’s to a summer of success for us all!
Cheers!
MIXING IT UP WITH MODERATION
A SIGNIFICANT SURGE IN THE POPULARITY OF LOW & NO ALCOHOL COCKTAILS has been driven by evolving customer preferences and an increasing emphasis on health and wellbeing. There are now sophisticated alcohol-free options that rival their traditional counterparts in complexity, taste and innovation.
Premium non-alcoholic spirits, botanical infusions, and craft techniques like foaming and clarification can provide a next level offering to your customers.
As the alcohol-free cocktails become more mainstream, it should be an important consideration for every venue.
1 IN 3 VISITS to pubs, bars and restaurants DO NOT INVOLVE ALCOHOL*
TIPS TO PROMOTE YOUR RANGE:
CREATE YOUR RANGE
Here’s some of our favourite low and no cocktails.
LET THEM KNOW!
Make your customers aware of your low and no cocktails.
Is there scope to create a dedicated section for them on your drinks menu?
Create a back bar display so it is easy to differentiate from your alcoholic cocktails.
Use your social media platforms. Instagram is especially great for targeting Gen Z who are big low and no consumers.
BRIEF YOUR BAR STAFF
Make sure your bar staff know your low and no cocktails really well.
A tasting session is an ideal way to engage your staff and increase their knowledge.
INGREDIENTS
50ml Lyre's Dry London Spirit
30ml Grapefruit Juice
20ml Lemon Juice
15ml Sugar Syrup
1 Star Anise (Garnish)
METHOD
1. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker along with some cubed ice.
2. Shake vigorously until chilled.
3. Double strain into a coupe and garnish with a floated star anise.
Lower Side
INGREDIENTS
40ml Casoni Aperitivo Non Alcolico
40ml Lyre's Dry London Spirit
2ds Orange Bitters
1 Orange Zest (Garnish)
METHOD
1. Add all ingredients into a mixing glass full of cubed ice.
2. Stir until well chilled strain and pour into a chilled coupe.
3. Add an orange zest for garnish.
Mr Howard
HIGH-QUALITY PHOTOS & VIDEOS:
Ensure your content is visually appealing, including close-up shots of food and drinks, photos of your venue’s atmosphere, and videos showcasing events or behind-the-scenes looks.
CONSISTENCY IS KEY:
Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep followers engaged and ensure your social media presence is consistent.
EVENT PROMOTION:
Promote upcoming events like themed nights, quiz nights, live music, or sporting events with visually appealing images or videos.
ENGAGING CONTENT:
Encourage user-generated content by running competitions or asking followers to share their experiences at your venue. Respond to comments and messages promptly. Spotlight your employees.
Social Media
With summer in full swing, now is a great time to review your social media practices. With the upcoming Summer Bank Holiday on Monday 25th August, start thinking about how you can best utilise social media to engage and attract customers to make it a bumper weekend!
CUSTOMER REVIEWS:
Feature positive customer reviews and testimonials to build trust.
UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS:
Stay up-to-date on the latest trends and incorporate them into your content strategy.
SUMMER BANK HOLIDAY – 25TH AUGUST
The perfect chance to push events and special offers on your social media channels to increase footfall and profits over the bank holiday weekend!
Select some ‘bank holiday specials’ in each drinks category to entice sales. Special cocktails offer excitement to customers and good margins for you.
Highlight your best features - have you got a great outdoor area? Do you have a children’s play area? Are you dog friendly? Let your audience know!
Host a bank holiday event and plug them on your social channels! Family fun days, BBQs and quiz nights are all popular events as a starting point.
SCORE BIG WITH WOMEN'S EURO 2025
Women’s football has experienced a remarkable rise in popularity in recent years, highlighted by the Lionesses’ historic victory at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 on home turf and their impressive run to the final of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. By screening these high-profile matches at your venue, you can tap into the growing demand for women’s football, attract more visitors, and boost your profits.
GROUP A
AROUND £124 MILLION WAS SPENT IN HOSPITALITY VENUES WHILE WATCHING THE WOMEN’S EURO 2022 TOURNAMENT *
WHAT INFLUENCED WHERE TO WATCH THE WOMEN’S 2023 WORLD CUP * :
DRINKS CHOICES WHEN WATCHING WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
TOP TIPS:
Create a fan zone atmosphere by decorating your venue with flags and banners. Think about projecting on to a bigger screen. Consider adding more screens to maximise seating with a good view. Run special offers on food and drinks.
Promote the tournament by displaying match schedules – don’t forget to promote your offering on your social media channels.
Organise events, competitions and theme nights around the tournament, such as a football quiz or guess the score competition.
BUILDING CUSTOMER LOYALTY
Customer loyalty isn’t just a nice-to-have - it’s key to long-term success. With rising guest expectations and more competition than ever, great service alone isn’t enough. Loyalty comes from creating experiences that guests remember - and want to come back for.
5-10 times more cost effective to retain existing customers than attract new ones*
FACTORS:**
Value for money is more than being the cheapest, it accounts for quality & service too!
Loyal customers spend 67% more on average**
1. PERSONALISE EVERY INTERACTION
Make your guests feel special by tailoring your messages to them. A little effort goes a long way - like sending a birthday discount or remembering their favourite drink.
2. GIVE REWARDS THEY’LL ACTUALLY USE
Loyalty programs work best when the rewards feel personal. Use what you know about your customers to offer deals that match their habits - like discounts on their go-to orders.
3. KEEP THE EXPERIENCE CONSISTENTLY GREAT
Whether it’s the food, drinks, atmosphere, or service - people come back for quality they can count on. Keep your standards high across the board so every visit feels just right.
4. ASK FOR FEEDBACK - AND DO SOMETHING WITH IT
Don’t just ask how you’re doing - show your customers you’re listening by making changes based on their feedback. It shows you care and want to improve.
5. MAKE IT MEMORABLE
Stand out by hosting fun events or theme nights. Memorable experiences give people a reason to come back - and tell their friends about you too.
6. USE TECH TO MAKE LOYALTY EASY
The right tools - like a CRM - make it easier to track guest preferences, manage rewards, and gather feedback, so you can offer more personal, seamless experiences.