Bar and Pub Marketing That Fills the Room

Bar and Pub Marketing, in Practice

A bar or pub rarely struggles on a Friday night. The hard part is midweek and the early evening slot, when the room is half empty and the staff are still on the rota. Good bar and pub marketing is about filling those gaps, and most of it now starts with a search.

Give every occasion its own page

Very few people search for a bar by name unless they already know it. They search for what they want to do: bottomless brunch, happy hour near me, a pub with a beer garden, somewhere to watch the football, a bar for a birthday. If you run brunch, quiz nights, live sport, a weekly offer or private hire, each one deserves its own page with times, prices and a way to book. A single “what’s on” page rarely ranks for any of them.

Own your street on Google Maps

For a bar or pub, Google Maps is the shop window. The right primary category, accurate opening hours including bank holidays, photos of the room when it is busy and replies to every review decide whether you appear in the three venues Google shows first. Our guide to getting into the Google Map Pack explains how it works.

Use paid social for the quiet nights

Organic Instagram keeps regulars engaged, but it rarely fills a Tuesday on its own. Short, local Meta campaigns can put one offer, such as a midweek deal or a match night, in front of people within walking distance, measured in bookings and covers rather than likes.

Be the answer in AI search

When someone asks ChatGPT for a good bar near Covent Garden for a group, it recommends venues whose details it can read and trust: clear text on the website, consistent opening hours and address everywhere, and strong reviews. Menus, offers and opening times should be written as text, not only shown in images.

Measure what actually changed

We separate searches for your bar’s name from searches by people looking for somewhere to drink, and report on the second group, because that is where new customers come from. Book a free 15 minute strategy call and we will show you which searches your venue is closest to winning.

Questions venues ask us

What is the best way to market a pub in London? Start with Google Maps and your website, because that is where most people decide. Give each regular event or offer its own page, keep your Google Business Profile complete and accurate, and use paid social to promote specific quiet nights.

Do bars need SEO? Yes. People search for occasions and areas far more than for bar names. SEO puts you in front of them for searches like bottomless brunch, happy hour, live sport or drinks near a station.

Do you work with pubs and bars outside London? Yes. We are based in Chatham, Kent, and work with bars, pubs and hospitality venues in London and every major UK city, as well as across Kent and the South East.

How much should a bar spend on marketing? It depends on capacity, average spend and how competitive your area is. We scope it on a free 15 minute strategy call so the plan fits the nights you need to fill.