I have built my man a pub, the Doghouse Inn
WORKERS are opting for traditional packed lunches for their meal break, making big savings as they turn their backs on the food-to-go market.
More of us bring in food prepared at home and sales of sandwiches, snacks and savoury pastries have suffered.
Data from analyst Kantar shows that the sector has seen declines in the past year of 1.5 per cent, 3.3 per cent and three per cent respectively.
Afternoon snacks have also suffered as the total number fell 1.8 per cent to two billion.
Kantar’s Taryn Ferguson told trade journal The Grocer: “Considering how cost-conscious shoppers have become this year, it is not surprising.”
The Grocer added that it was clear consumers are cutting back. “Shoppers have made 32.5 million fewer trips to the food-to-go aisles this year,” it said.
JAYNE Tapper has brought a whole new meaning to her husband “being in the doghouse” – by building a pub in her garden and calling it the Doghouse Inn.
It took the mother of three, 48, five months and around £4,000 to build and stock the private boozer.
Jayne, a nurse from Newton Abbot, Devon, married to Paul, 53, said: “My husband always loved popping down to our local and I could never seem to keep him at home.
“I got thinking, why not create my own pub, become my own landlady and then I can really tell people – my husband’s in the doghouse!
“We had to get the garden levelled anyway and it seemed like the perfect opportunity. A mate was able to create us a sign for the pub with one of our dogs, Rufus, on. Then I worked on making it like a proper pub.”
Building the wooden cabin cost Jayne around £2,700. Then to make it their own, she put in a church pew and a Space Invader machine for around £750. Creating the bar and stocking it cost £400 but she grabbed a sofa, TV and fridge for free from family and friends.
Then Jayne trawled car boots and eBay for the little knickknacks like signs, pictures and tankards.
She said: “It’s great to chill in and it really does feel like I’m in my local. Paul will even bring round his mates now and we always seem to be busy.”