What makes the perfect pub? New polling reveals all on Bank Holiday

• 80 years since George Orwell described his perfect local, the public have had their say on the ideal features of their dream pub

• One third of Brits said that a cosy atmosphere, traditional pub grub and a beer garden are must-haves, British Beer and Pub Association's campaign finds

• Results come as August Bank Holiday could mean an additional 2.7 million extra pints poured

• BBPA's Long Live the Local campaign says urges Government to back the people behind the pint by cutting beer duty and permanently reforming business rates

In February 1946, famed author and journalist George Orwell put pen to paper and laid out a manifesto for his perfect pub, “The Moon Under Water”.

Now, eighty years later, the British Beer and Pub Association's Long Live the Local campaign have discovered the British public's perfect pub.

Orwell said the “architecture and fittings must be uncompromisingly Victorian”; and with 33% of those polled picking a cosy, traditional atmosphere, it's clear that style still reigns supreme – whilst only 6% preferred a modern, stylish character, the polling by More In Common found.

Another must-have feature of the nation's dream pub is the beer garden, with 32% of the public seeing outdoor space as a non-negotiable. In a similar vein, one-in-ten also stressed the importance of a “dog-friendly” pub.

Pub grub is one of the most sought-after features, with 31% of Brits craving a pub Sunday Roast, bangers and mash, or steak and chips.

For just over a quarter of pub-goers, convenience is the most important aspect of the local, with 27% favouring a local that's a short walk from their home.

The polling comes on the August Bank Holiday, which could see a 5% increase in pint sales – an extra 2.7m pints – the equivalent of a £13.5m boost for pubs.

The results showed a clear generational divide.

Pub patrons 75 years and older were the most in favour of traditional pub food, at 41%, as well as the closeness of their dream local (41%).

Those aged 18-24-years old are more concerned with entertainment and competing with one another. Of that group, 30% said pub games, a pool table and darts were top of their wish list, whilst 27% described their perfect pub as one with a regular quiz night and live music.

Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: “The fact that Orwell penned an essay on what makes the perfect pub is testament to how the humble local has long been cherished.

“There's no better place to be on a Bank Holiday than the local, which is why the Government must support the people behind the pint. They are not just a place to get a cracking Sunday roast or soak up the sun in the beer garden; they fight off loneliness, with socialising in pubs worth £30 billion in wellbeing every year.

“Ahead of the Budget, we're calling on the Government to bring beer duty and VAT in line with our European neighbours, as well as permanent reform to business rates and a cut in VAT.”

Luke Tryl, Executive Director at More in Common, said: "For anyone heading to their local pub this bank holiday weekend, the data tells us they're looking for something modest - somewhere cosy, a proper roast, a beer garden if the weather improves, and close enough to walk home from. We do also have our differences in what we want out of a pub - for the over-65s it's traditional food, a short walk home and the staff knowing who you are; while the youngest want a pool table, a quiz night and even live music. Very few Britons like their pub to look modern and "stylish" - worth a thought for any landlord planning a refurb."

The Long Live the Local campaign is calling on the Government to back the people behind the country's pubs. The British Beer and Pub Association's campaign are calling for a cut in beer duty, permanent business rates reform and a reduction in VAT.

The Long Live the Local campaign launched in 2018 to raise awareness of the UK's alarming rate of pub closures and currently stands at over 250,000 supporters from all over the country.

It has helped to bring the issues that pubs face to the top of the political agenda, with almost 40,000 letters to MPs sent last year alone.

Notes to Editors

1. Polling conducted by More in Common.

2. Fieldwork took place between 5 and 9 June 2026.

3. Sample size: 2,087 UK adults.

4. Results have been weighted to be nationally representative by age/sex interlocked, region, ethnicity, 2024 General Election vote and education level.

For more information:

Anna Edwards, Head of Communications, British Beer and Pub Association

aedwards@beerandpub.com

Third-party news items are published as received for informational purposes. Publication does not imply endorsement by the Guild. Please use the contact details within the post for any enquiries.