Trend for ‘posh nosh’ takeaways is taking away from pub atmosphere

A TREND for home-delivered food could be killing the traditional pub atmosphere as diners are increasingly avoiding trips out by opting for more upmarket takeaways.

A selection of favourites such as meat pies and roast dinners are becoming available for home delivery as pubs succumb to pressure from customers to offer food online in an attempt to stay ahead of the competition.

The number of people ordering food from pubs online or through smartphone apps rose by 59pc last year, with deliveries of pub classics now accounting for 4 per cent of the UK’s takeaway market, according to analysts at The NPD Group. Even McDonald’s has announced it is looking into offering a delivery service in the UK.

It comes after the British Beer and Pub Association said that more beer is being sold in supermarkets than pubs for the first time.

The takeaway market is growing 10 times faster than the dining out market, the data shows. Visits to eat out in pubs and restaurants increased by 1pc yearon-year to 11.3 billion in 2016, while the delivery sector increased by nearly 10pc to 599 million visits.

Cyril Lavenant, food service director at The NPD Group, said: “Pubs are now feeling they need to get involved with food deliveries in order to keep up with their competitors. But as the trend grows it could ruin their atmosphere if fewer people are turning up.

“I expect that it will lead to pubs making more of an effort with their decor to encourage people to sit in. But as they are already struggling with people choosing to drink less, they may struggle to find the money for this.”

A village pub saved by a community buy-out has been named Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale. Judges said they were “particularly impressed with the warm and welcoming atmosphere” at the George & Dragon in Hudswell, North Yorks.