Pub operator and brewer Brakspear is targeting the nation’s growing band of dog lovers with a new ‘Pooches in Pubs’ campaign, designed to make its pubs the first point of call for four-legged friends and their owners.
Central to the campaign is a competition for dog owners, inviting them to submit a picture of their pooch in a Brakspear pub via social media, with winners receiving a charcoal drawing of their dog, and runner up prizes of Brakspear water bowls and frisbees. Pictures are displayed on the dedicated website (see link below).
Pooches in Pubs also offers practical help and guidance for Brakspear licensees to make their pubs more dog-friendly, with a supply of ‘dogs welcome’ posters and drip mats, tips on how to treat canine customers and a handful of recipes for dog meals.
Enticing dog lovers
Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies said, “The majority of our pubs, especially in rural areas, are already dog friendly, so this campaign is about sharing best practice and encouraging our tenants to try a few new tactics to entice dog lovers through the doors. We know that if dogs are fed, watered and made to feel comfortable in the pub, their owners will spend more time and money with us, so it makes sound business sense as well as being good customer service.
“Dog owners love showing off photos of their precious pets in our pubs, frequently wearing a Brakspear boater or bowler hat. The chance of winning a charcoal drawing will be a powerful draw so we’re expecting the competition to attract a healthy response as well as engaging our dog-loving customers with their local Brakspear pub.”
The UK dog population numbers around nine million, a one million increase since 2012. Dogs are the nation’s most popular pet, kept by a quarter of households.
For more information click here