Pubs fill on regulars, events and the Google listing people check before they walk in. This page is for landlords and operators. It covers what a typical pub should spend, what a booking costs through ads, how to promote events without paying for reach you do not get, and the free fixes first.
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£200 to £600
a month is enough marketing for a typical pub (Whito, May 2026)
£0.50 to £3
per Google Ads click on pub keywords (Whito, May 2026)
41,691
pubs still trading, down from 46,000 in 2019 (Whito data report, May 2026)
£24.59
average spend per head (Whito data report, May 2026)
Finding
A typical UK pub can run effective marketing for £200 to £600 a month, with Google Ads clicks for pub keywords at £0.50 to £3 and a cost per booking of £3 to £12, according to Whito's cost guide published in May 2026.
Source: Whito, whito.co.uk/research/uk-pub-marketing-costs, May 2026. Free to quote with a link to that page.
Start, Build, Scale
The right order for pubs
Do the stages in order. Nothing in Build works while Start is missing.
Start, Build, Scale for pubs: complete the Google listing and reviews first, then events and a contact list you own, then fill quiet nights from that list and track spend per filled seat.Start
- Google Business Profile with hours, photos and events
- Reply to every review
- Menu and prices in text if you serve food
Build
- An events calendar people can find and share
- A local contact list you own
- Confirmation texts for table bookings
Scale
- Fill quiet nights from your own list
- Put small budgets behind real events only
- Track spend per filled seat, not likes
Where the first budget goes
Free fixes first, then a small monthly spend
Spend nothing until the free fixes are done. Then 200 to 600 pounds a month is enough marketing for a typical pub, with Google Ads clicks at 50 pence to 3 pounds and a cost per booking of 3 to 12 pounds. Whito, May 2026.Spend nothing yet
£0
A complete Google Business Profile, events listed where search can read them, and review replies. All free.
Then, when those are done
£200 to £600 a month
Enough marketing for a typical pub. Clicks cost £0.50 to £3, a booking £3 to £12 (Whito, May 2026).
The library
Every guide and study for pubs
3 guides · 2 studies. All specific to pubs, every figure dated.
GuideTop 5 UK Pub Marketing Breakdown (2026): Social Media, Email, SEO, Reviews and More
GuideHouse of the Trembling Madness: Marketing Review
StudyUK Pub Marketing Costs 2026: What to Spend and Where
StudyUK Pub Marketing in Numbers: 2026 Data Report
Whito need-to-know
- Google Business Profile is your single highest-return marketing asset. Complete it, add photos monthly, respond to every review, and post weekly updates. It is free.
- Delivery platforms take 14% to 30% per order (Whito, May 2026). Use them for discovery, but build direct channels for repeat customers.
- A list of 300 local contacts lets you fill a quiet Tuesday night with one text message about a pie-and-pint deal.
- Unpaid Facebook posts reach a small share of your followers. Budget £3 to £5 per day for targeted local ads.
- Consistency beats novelty. Weekly quiz nights, Sunday roasts, and live music Fridays that people can rely on outperform one-off events every time.
Why most pub marketing misses the mark
Relying on walk-ins
Footfall is dropping year on year across UK high streets. Pubs that depend on passing trade are slowly losing ground to those actively pulling people in through search, social, and direct outreach.
Invisible on Google
Your listing has no photos, wrong opening hours, or missing event info. When someone searches "pub near me" tonight, they pick the one that looks best online. If yours looks abandoned, the table goes elsewhere.
No system for regulars
A first-time visitor walks in, has a great time, and never comes back because you have no way to remind them you exist. No email, no SMS, no loyalty programme. Every new customer is starting from scratch.
What actually works for pub marketing
The pubs filling seats midweek are not lucky. They have simple systems that keep locals coming back.
Own your Google listing
Add fresh photos monthly. Respond to every review. Post weekly updates about events, specials, and seasonal menus. Pubs with complete profiles rank higher and convert more searches into visits.
Build a locals list
Collect emails and phone numbers through Wi-Fi sign-in, competition entries, or loyalty cards. 300 local contacts is enough to fill a quiet night with one well-timed message.
Create repeatable events
Weekly quiz nights, Sunday roasts, live music Fridays. Promote them 7 days ahead across social, in the pub, and via your list. Make booking easy with a link, not just "call us".
Use targeted social ads
£3 to £5 per day on Facebook ads within a 5-mile radius reaches thousands of locals. Promote your next event or weekend offer. Pair with a booking link to track results.
Get your reviews up
Ask every happy customer to leave a Google review. Train staff to mention it naturally. A pub with 80 reviews at 4.5 stars beats one with 12 reviews at 5 stars every time in search rankings.
Track what fills seats
Use unique booking links or promo codes for each channel. Know whether your Tuesday quiz crowd came from Facebook, your email list, or the A-board outside. Stop spending on what does not work.
Three quick wins this week
Complete your Google Business Profile
Add 10 fresh photos, correct your hours, write a proper description, and enable messaging. This alone can double your visibility in local searches within weeks.
Set up a simple email capture
Create a free Mailchimp account. Put a tablet by the bar offering 10% off next visit for signing up. Aim for 20 sign-ups per week to build your list.
Post your next three events properly
Create proper event listings on Facebook and Google with times, booking links, and clear photos. Boost each for £5 targeting people within 5 miles of your pub.
Common pub marketing mistakes
Posting without paying
Unpaid Facebook posts reach only a fraction of your followers. Every important announcement needs at least £3 behind it or it is essentially invisible.
Last-minute event promotion
Announcing your quiz night on the day is too late. People plan their evenings 3 to 7 days ahead. Build anticipation with a countdown, not a scramble.
Ignoring negative reviews
An unanswered one-star review tells every future customer you do not care. Respond professionally within 24 hours. Most people judge you on the response more than the complaint itself.
Pub marketing guides
The register that matters
Premises licence and food hygiene rating
Both are public record. Both belong on your site in text with your company number.
Ready to fill more seats without guessing?
Start with the free visibility check: Seventeen checks, about twenty seconds, no email, no sales call. It tells you what AI search and Google can actually read about your pub, and what to fix first.
Check your site free