Why just have Halloween if you can make it a Halloweek? Managed operator TCG’s pubs and bars stretched their spooky celebrations into an extended fright fest and reaped the benefits with extra customers and impressive sales uplifts across the week. On 31st October itself, sales were up by more than £60,000 on a typical Wednesday.
TCG chief operating officer Nigel Wright said, “Halloween has grown steadily to become one of the biggest nights of the year in our pubs and bars and we’re delighted that so many of them have managed to extend the event beyond just 31st October itself.
“Big events’ like Halloween are only as good as the execution by the teams and as ever, they embraced the occasion with creativity and enthusiasm – as well as huge quantities of fake blood and face paint.”
While fancy dress and themed drinks were tactics used by many sites, several went the extra mile to create a Halloween atmosphere. The Golden Fleece in Chelmsford recreated 80s horror movie ‘The Fog’, filling the pub with fog and turning the dance floor into a haunted forest. Sales were up by 65% on the previous year.
Meanwhile, the Pit & Pendulum in Nottingham, as one of TCG’s four Eerie Pubs, had a headstart on the horror front, which it exploited fully to ensure a successful Halloweek.
Celebrations kicked off with live music from vampire-themed metal band Stuka Squadron. General manager Danny Williams, said: “We’re the only venue in Nottingham town centre that offers live music without an entry charge, so it was a great way to start the week.”
The party spirit continued right through to Halloween itself at the bar, with DJs, party nights and special drinks promotions. Halloween scratchcards, courtesy of the Wychwood Hobgoblin ale brand, offered customers prizes of branded t-shirts and glasses to be won. “Ales were popular right through Halloweek,” said Williams. “As well as Hobgoblin, we had Bank’s Howling Wolf and Screech Owl from our local brewery.”
Trade was up by about 10 per cent compared to a normal trading week, according to Williams. “We were the most popular bar in Nottingham right through to Halloween night itself. Customers were definitely up for celebrating Halloween, we saw some amazing fancy dress outfits and there was a great party atmosphere throughout the week.”
Caption to attached image: the team at Pit & Pendulum get into the spirit of Halloweek
Issued on behalf of: TCG
By: ShielPorter Communications
Further information: Ros Shiel: ros@shielporter.com / 07841 694137
John Porter: john@shielporter.com / 07734 054389