Support an Independent Pub Day is returning for a third year, on the 31st of this month, timed to mark the end of Dry January.
The Blue Maid, Borough, London, one of the pubs taking part in the event
The event is a joint venture between the CityStack London Independent Pub Collection and Historic Pub Crawls.
Each participating pub will set a pint sales target on the day, which will be communicated to patrons. Communities will be involved in hitting these targets throughout the day to make the tills ring.
The aim of the organising groups is simple: to celebrate and support treasured community hubs that help millions of people stay connected and fight loneliness.
To encourage visits to independent pubs, the team of pub aficionados will actively spread the word about the day to their social media communities. Independent pubs are also invited to join the movement and share the event, prompting both loyal patrons and new visitors to come together and celebrate these unique gathering hubs.
The movement will be joined by many pub enthusiasts, including Phil Carr,the renowned TikTok creator whose community numbers more than 1 million followers.
“I’m a keen pub-goer, and I have a deep affection for independent pubs,” said Phil. “They play a vital role in our communities, which is why I champion initiatives like Support an Independent Pub Day and the CityStack London Pub Collection. These are excellent ways to get people through their doors.”
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Thomas J Vosper, author of Historic Pub Crawls, followed by 380,000 pub enthusiasts on social media, will invite his community to gather at the Blue Maid, a historic independent pub in Borough.
He said: “Having visited so many pubs over the past few years, I am well aware of the challenges these hospitality businesses face, and it’s heartbreaking to witness.
“We desperately need to preserve these spaces of social connection. I want to help raise awareness of these challenges and the importance of supporting independent pubs. Participating in the organisation of this special day is a great way to show people why choosing independent pubs matters.”
The CityStack team will provide all the pubs taking part in this initiative with materials to effectively communicate, create events, and build momentum, to drive people to visit their establishments.
Alison Boutoille, founder of CityStack, said: “Since we created CityStack, we have been working relentlessly to support independent pubs and help drive footfall to these small businesses all year long. More people are now choosing ‘independent’ when going out, but the first quarter remains a particularly challenging period.
“To address this, three years ago, we decided to take extra action and created Support an Independent Pub Day to give a boost of visitors during this time. It has been a success, and feedback from pubs has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Not only did it increase footfall during a quieter period, but it also helped raise awareness of the challenges independent pubs face in the current economic climate.”
