Consumers prefer a pub visit over any other leisure activity

Consumers still prefer a visit to the pub over any other out-of-home leisure activity, according to new research.

Of the 1,800 peopled polled by Carlsberg, 34% said that they visited the pub weekly. This compares to 30% who said they chose a coffee shop, 22% who played sport and 17% who visited a restaurant each week.

The Carlsberg UK Consumer Insights Report 2014 found that pub visits were up 1%, compared to 2010, with growth in visits from SWAGs (single wise affluent grown-ups, typically 36 to 54 years old) up 5% to 42% in the same period.

However, the report found a substantial decline in pub visits from young people, with 7% fewer 20-35 year old couples and 6% fewer single 18-25 year olds visiting pub weekly than in 2010.

Carlsberg UK director of customer marketing Kathryn Purchase said: "The findings of our research are good news for the on-trade. Even in the face of negative press surrounding the prospects for pubs and bars, average weekly visits have increased. Pubs and bars remain central to people's leisure choices and are by far the favourite out-of-home activity for the UK adult.

"However, the on-trade visitor is definitely changing and pubs need to be flexible enough to adapt and cater for them."