The Roast That Gets People Talking
Would you pay £50 for a Sunday roast?
Probably not. But you’d definitely talk about it. And that’s the point.
Back in Philadelphia, a steakhouse called Barclay Prime created a $100 cheesesteak. It wasn’t meant to be ordered every night. It was designed to be outrageous. Journalists wrote about it. Celebrities ordered it once just for the photo. And suddenly a local steakhouse was famous nationwide.
That’s not just food. That’s marketing.
Now imagine doing the same in your pub:
- A £50 Wagyu & Truffle Roast that comes with bragging rights.
- A Landlord’s Challenge Burger stacked taller than a pint glass.
- A password-only cocktail available only to quiz teams.
These aren’t just gimmicks. They’re unique pub marketing ideas that turn your venue into the talk of the town.
Why Unique Ideas Beat Posters Every Time
Most landlords fall into the same trap:
- Poster outside the door.
- Facebook event nobody shares.
- Maybe an A-board if the rain hasn’t washed it away.
The result? Dead Tuesdays, flat quiz nights, and karaoke that barely fills one table.
The truth is: posters don’t spread. Stories do.
Research shows 20–50% of all purchase decisions are driven by word of mouth. A single recommendation from a friend is 10x more effective than an ad. Pubs are perfectly positioned for this — your customers are already sitting together, already sharing stories. You just need to give them the right story to tell.
That’s where unique pub marketing ideas come in.
The Psychology Behind Outrageous Promotions
Jonah Berger, author of Contagious: Why Things Catch On, explained why some ideas spread. It’s not luck — it’s psychology.
The 6 principles (STEPPS) explain why unique pub marketing ideas work:
- Social Currency: People want to look clever or cool by sharing it.
- Triggers: Tie events to habits — “Wednesday = Quiz Night”.
- Emotion: Outrage or joy fuels sharing.
- Public: If it’s built to show, it grows.
- Practical Value: Tips & hacks people want to pass on.
- Stories: Wrap events in tales that spread naturally.
That £50 roast? It ticks at least 3 boxes — social currency, emotion, and stories. That’s why it spreads.
5 Unique Pub Marketing Ideas to Try
Here’s a starter list of ideas any landlord can use:
- The £50 Roast (or OTT Menu Item)
- Doesn’t matter if no one orders it. The story itself spreads.
- Password-Only Cocktails
- Last week’s quiz answer is the password. Instant buzz.
- Winners’ Wall of Fame
- Photos of quiz or darts champs pinned up and shared online.
- Themed Karaoke Nights
- “Sing badly, win big.” Or decade-themed nights where costumes are encouraged.
- Landlord’s Challenge
- Beat the landlord at darts or pool, win free drinks.
These are memorable, shareable, and contagious.
Case Studies That Prove It Works
The $100 Cheesesteak (Philadelphia)
We’ve already mentioned it, but it’s worth repeating: Barclay Prime’s $100 cheesesteak wasn’t about selling sandwiches. It was about creating a story.
Locals laughed about it. Tourists came just to see it. Newspapers wrote about it. In marketing terms, it delivered free PR worth thousands — all from one outrageous menu item.
Now swap cheesesteaks for roasts, cocktails, or burgers. Your pub can do the same.
The Pub That Put Giant Yorkshires on the Map
In Yorkshire, a few pubs went viral by serving roasts inside comically oversized Yorkshire puddings. Customers didn’t just eat them — they posed for photos, tagged their mates, and shared it online.
Result? Bookings soared. Not because of paid ads — but because one unique idea created endless social media content.
Karaoke With a Twist
A London pub flipped the script on karaoke by running a “Sing Badly, Win Big” contest. Instead of rewarding the best singers, they celebrated the worst. The sillier, the better.
The result? TikTok clips racked up thousands of views, the pub was suddenly “the one with that karaoke night,” and regular Thursdays became packed.
Why “Unique” Beats “Cheap”
Here’s the mistake many pubs make: racing to the bottom with discounts.
- £2 pints.
- 50p wings.
- “Cheapest night in town.”
The problem? Anyone can copy you. You can’t out-discount the chain pubs forever.
But a unique pub marketing idea — like the £50 roast or secret cocktails — is hard to copy. It’s memorable. It gives punters a reason to choose your pub, not just a price.
In fact, research shows that people are more likely to pay more when there’s a unique experience attached. That’s the psychology of value.
Turning Ordinary Events Into Unique Moments
Even if you don’t want to launch a £50 roast tomorrow, you can still transform everyday events with a unique twist.
Here’s how:
- Quiz Nights → Add wild card rounds (e.g., “Landlord vs the Crowd”).
- Football Screenings → Offer half-price pints when a local hero scores.
- Roasts → Add a “mystery side” that changes weekly.
- Darts/Pool Nights → Challenge nights where customers take on staff.
- Charity Nights → Outrageous forfeits for the landlord if targets are hit.
These tweaks don’t cost much, but they give punters a reason to talk about you.
Social Media: Your Amplifier
A unique idea is powerful. But when you combine it with social media, it becomes unstoppable.
The formula:
- Stage the moment. (Big roast, crazy karaoke, trophy presentation).
- Make it visual. Punters should want to snap a photo.
- Encourage sharing. Create hashtags, tag winners, post highlights.
- Join the conversation. Comment back, share customer posts, celebrate the banter.
One outrageous idea can fuel weeks of content.
What Makes an Idea Go Viral?
Not every quirky idea will spread. The best unique pub marketing ideas share three traits:
- Remarkable – People can’t help but talk about it.
- Relatable – It ties into something familiar (roasts, quizzes, karaoke).
- Repeatable – Punters can retell it easily.
That’s why the £50 roast works. It’s so outrageous, people talk about it instantly. And when someone retells it in the office Monday morning, they only need one line:
“Did you hear The Crown is doing a £50 roast?”
How to Put Unique Pub Marketing Ideas Into Action
It’s one thing to read about outrageous roasts and karaoke stunts. But how do you actually make this work in your pub without blowing the budget or confusing your regulars?
Here’s a step-by-step playbook:
1. Start with One Bold Idea
Pick one idea that feels outrageous, fun, and aligned with your pub’s vibe. It could be:
- A giant roast.
- A secret cocktail.
- A ridiculous trophy.
- A themed karaoke night.
Don’t try to do everything at once. One strong idea is more contagious than five half-hearted ones.
2. Launch It Loudly
Outrageous ideas deserve fanfare. Treat the launch like a mini event:
- Announce it on social media with photos/videos.
- Get your staff hyped so they spread it too.
- Tease it the week before (“Something massive is coming this Sunday roast…”).
3. Bake in Word of Mouth
Make it impossible not to share:
- Add a funny sign or chalkboard line.
- Offer a “tag us for a free side” promo.
- Create a photo-op spot in the pub.
4. Track What Works
Not every idea will be a hit. The secret is testing:
- Count photos taken / social shares.
- Track bookings or attendance uplift.
- Ask punters what they loved.
Double down on winners. Retire the rest.
Outbound Inspiration
Want to sharpen your marketing brain? These classics show why unique ideas work:
- Jonah Berger – Contagious: The 6 STEPPS of viral marketing.
- David Ogilvy – Ogilvy on Advertising: Timeless lessons on what makes ads stick.
- Robert Cialdini – Influence: The psychology of persuasion in action.
- CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale): Case studies of pubs thriving through community.
- UKHospitality: Research + guidance on driving footfall in the UK pub sector.
Each of these proves the same thing: remarkable ideas spread further than paid ads ever can.
FAQ: Unique Pub Marketing Ideas
Q: What are some unique pub marketing ideas?
A: Outrageous menu items (like a £50 roast), secret cocktails, karaoke with a twist, winners’ walls, and staff challenges are all examples of ideas that spark word of mouth.
Q: Do unique ideas actually increase pub footfall?
A: Yes. Research shows word of mouth drives 20–50% of buying decisions. When punters share your unique events or menu items, you attract new customers without extra ad spend.
Q: How do I make my pub stand out from local competitors?
A: Stop competing on price. Instead, create memorable experiences. Unique ideas are hard to copy and give punters a reason to choose your pub over a chain.
Q: Isn’t a £50 roast risky? What if no one buys it?
A: The goal isn’t sales — it’s stories. Even if nobody orders it, the buzz alone makes it worth it. Think of it as PR, not menu strategy.
Q: How can I promote these ideas without spending hours writing posts?
A: Tools like SmartPubTools.net let you type in your event or offer and instantly get banter-rich posts for Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. It saves time while keeping your content funny, local, and engaging.
Final Pour
Unique pub marketing ideas aren’t about gimmicks for gimmicks’ sake. They’re about giving punters something to talk about — something worth sharing long after the last pint is poured.
A £50 roast. A secret cocktail. A karaoke night that rewards the worst singer. These aren’t “just” promotions. They’re stories. And stories are what spread.
🍻 Want help making your pub nights contagious?
👉 Read more ideas here: SmartPubTools Blog
👉 Or save hours with SmartPubTools.net — the AI tool built for busy landlords.