Ladies who (pub) lunch

The local pub has traditionally been seen as a haven for men - a place where they can quietly sip a pint and escape the strains of daily life. But new research shows that working women are now more likely than men to visit the pub at lunchtime.

A survey has found that a fifth of women pop to the local for a bite to eat and a quick drink every week, compared to less than a sixth of men.

The survey of 1,000 adults across Britain shows that the growing number of women in full-time work has led to the dramatic increase in their lunchtime visits to the pub.

The report, by data analysts KeyNote, said British pubs are losing the traditionally masculine image, and there is a more equal representation of the sexes among customers.

It said: "Although men remain in the majority overall, this survey produces the interesting finding that more women than men now use pubs at lunchtime. This reflects not only equality but the record numbers of women who go out to work full time.

It also underlines the growing role of food in the pub in the community."

According to the survey, men still dominate their local after work and at weekends, when working mothers are more likely to be at home looking after the family. For many of these women, weekday lunchtimes represent a spell of freedom from both domestic and work obligations - the perfect opportunity to head to the pub.

In recent years pub-owners have woken up to the fact that women go out to socialise with friends. Rather than prop up the bar, drink in hand, many prefer being able to sit down in groups and chat.

Gone is the old-fashioned pub interior of heavily-patterned wallpaper and floral curtains and in its place are white walls, lightcoloured wooden floorboards and large, comfortable sofas.

There have been changes in the menu too, with pubs moving beyond
pork scratchings or crisps to offer everything from Sunday lunches to healthy pastas and salads. The survey shows the most common occasion for women to visit pubs is for meals, with 67 per cent admitting they regularly go to the local to eat, with celebratory drinks and a meal drawing in 65 per cent.

Happy-hour cocktails also attract female customers, and pubs are becoming increasingly family friendly - welcoming children by providing outside play areas and even youngsters' menus.

A spokesman for the British Beer and Pub Association agreed that pubs are competing to attract more women drinkers by making their bars more appealing.

"We have long recognised the enormous demand among women for places to go," he added. "That is why pubs have changed their image by changing the decor and introducing food and different drinks. We are also looking at more developments in the near future, such as providing wine-shaped glasses to serve a half-pint measure of lager."

The report shows that the growing female pub clientele has led to a surge in demand for bottled beer as opposed to pints, more call for alcopops and demand for a bigger range of good-quality wines.