Cocktail sales double since lockdown
Cocktail sales have doubled since pubs reopened in May, with cocktails now accounting for 25% of spirit serves.
Data from Star Pubs and Bars' Just Add Talent (JAT) managed operator pubs has revealed that cocktail sales have doubled since pubs reopened in May, with cocktails now accounting for 25% of spirit serves in the average pub.
The increase has contributed to a 44% surge in spirits’ share of wet sales. Spirits are now the second biggest category at JAT pubs after beer and ciders.
As a results, Star Pubs & Bars has launched a free cocktail menu builder to help its leased and tenanted licensees capitalise on a post lockdown boom in cocktail sales and aid their pandemic recovery.
Star’s new cocktail menu builder has its own website and enables licensees to access over 450 different cocktail recipes, search for recipes using spirits they have in stock and create two free personalised cocktail menus a year. Images and spirits logos for menu production are provided as well as templates listing the top ten most popular serves by venue type, ranging from community locals to premium style bars.
“People stayed close to home for 18 months due to the pandemic," says Star Pubs & Bars spirits category buyer Ben Ko-Nkengmo. "Many rediscovered their local pubs and wanted them to provide more sophisticated serves such as cocktails that they’d normally enjoyed on nights out in town and city centre bars. Serving cocktails is no longer a ‘nice to have’ even for community pubs. Customers expect at least a capsule menu of four really well made cocktails. This trend will be amplified in the festive season when pub goers look to treat themselves.”
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