In the competitive pub industry, relying on “good service” alone isn’t enough. The world’s top strategists—from behavioral economists to data scientists—agree that success relies on understanding two things: perception and availability.
We’ve synthesized the foundational strategies shared by global experts like Rory Sutherland, Byron Sharp, and April Dunford into three rules you can apply to your pub this week. Stop chasing fleeting trends and start building an evidence-based engine for growth.
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Rule 1: Optimize Perception, Not Just Price (The Behavioral Hack)
Many pub owners believe growth requires expensive renovations or deep discounting. But according to Rory Sutherland (Ogilvy), who focuses on behavioural economics, often the cheapest solution is changing the perception of the experience, rather than the experience itself.
Application for Pubs:
• Reframing Value: Instead of slashing prices on a slow Tuesday, focus on adding perceived value. Can you rename your standard burger the “Heritage Hand-Pressed Patty” and use more premium-sounding menu language? Sutherland’s case stories suggest minor tweaks in communication can drastically shift perception.
• The Scent and Sound Signature: Invest in your atmosphere. Are you the only pub in your area playing classic vinyl or using specific, warm lighting? These small, low-cost sensorial changes create a distinctive “feel” that is emotionally compelling and difficult for competitors to copy.
• Social Transmission Factor: We must ask: What about this pub is worth talking about? Jonah Berger’s research on virality and social transmission (cadence: quarterly articles) emphasizes that people share things that are practically valuable, emotionally arousing, or easily observable. Does your signature cocktail or sharing platter have a name or presentation that people need to photograph and share?
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Rule 2: Nail Your Category Clarity to Win Locally
If you try to be a sports bar, a fine dining establishment, and a family venue all at once, you fail to establish a clear identity. This lack of clear identity, known as poor positioning, is a core critique made by experts like April Dunford (cadence: monthly blog).
Application for Pubs:
• Define Your Category: What is your pub the best at? Are you the definitive “Post-Work Pint Haven” or the “Local Literary Lounge”? April Dunford stresses that establishing category clarity makes the choice obvious for your customer.
• The Godin Test: As taught by the Seth Godin Blog (cadence: daily), your positioning must earn permission and attention from your customer base. If your pub is positioned perfectly for young professionals on a Friday, are you giving them a reason to choose you daily, not just weekly?
• Discipline: If you decide you are the “Best Craft Beer Stop,” ensure your specials, marketing, and staff training all reinforce that position, rejecting opportunities that muddy that message.
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Rule 3: Master Availability: Be Seen and Be Easy
The most powerful rule in evidence-based marketing, detailed by Byron Sharp / Ehrenberg-Bass (cadence: quarterly research), is that brands grow by increasing mental and physical availability. For a pub, this means you must be the easiest choice, both mentally (top-of-mind) and physically (easy to find and use).
Application for Pubs:
• Mental Availability (Distinctiveness): You need to be memorable. Sharp’s work shows that you must be distinctive rather than merely differentiated. Does your pub sign use unique colors, a recognizable icon, or a memorable name? This ensures that when a potential customer thinks “pub,” your establishment comes to mind first.
• Physical Availability (Easy to Enter): In the age of digital integration, physical availability goes beyond just your location.
◦ Are your hours and specials instantly updated on Google Maps and Yelp?
◦ Are you leveraging the macro tech shifts (as analyzed in the Ben Evans Newsletter weekly) related to local discovery, or are you ignoring them?
◦ If your market is influenced by delivery apps, Scott Galloway’s aggressive tech + brand strategy POV (cadence: weekly newsletter) suggests you must understand how these platforms impact customer loyalty and reach.
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Conclusion: The Path to the Full House
Building a successful pub brand today isn’t about luck; it’s about disciplined strategy. By applying the behavioral insights of Sutherland, the clarity of Dunford, and the scientific rigor of Sharp, you stop wasting time on costly guesses and start investing only in strategies proven to drive consistent foot traffic and growth.
What is your pub’s single clearest position? Let us know in the comments!