THURSDAY 11TH DECEMBER 2025
A Tiny Pub With a Mighty Mission: Why We’re Hitting the Road With The Wandering Inn
This month, we launched The Wandering Inn - our very own pint-sized travelling pub - and sent it out on the road in a rallying cry for people to get out and give their local some love! Standing just 5’5” tall but fully functional, it made its debut in Manchester, pouring bold pints for curious passers-by and reminding people just how exciting British beer and pub culture is.
And while it might be small, it’s carrying a big message.
Why We Built a Tiny Pub
For us, The Wandering Inn is a celebration of everything we love about beer: discovery, flavour, adventure, and community. But it’s also a response to something we’ve been hearing for a long time - that drinkers want more choice.
To understand this properly, we ran a nationwide Beer Census, speaking to 2,000 adults about how, when, and why they drink. What we found confirmed what many of us suspected.
74% of Brits feel major brewers are overrepresented in pubs.
79% say they’d visit their local more often if there were better options on tap.
81% would even pay a little more for a pint if pubs offered more variety.
That’s a huge mandate for change.
We’ve always championed bold, distinctive beer, and the findings show just how many drinkers are craving the same thing. Nearly 70% of people told us they’ve discovered a new favourite beer or style in the past year - a sign that curiosity and exploration are shaping the modern drinking experience.
The State of the Pub in 2024
Although hybrid working has changed so much about daily life, some traditions endure. Our research shows that Friday remains the number one day for a post-work pint, with more than half of people (54%) saying flexible working hasn’t altered their pub routine.
But even with these habits holding strong, Brits are now visiting the pub on average 4.1 times per month - a reminder of the challenges facing hospitality. Over one in five adults, and nearly a quarter of 18–24s, say they’re drinking less overall.
We believe pubs are worth protecting. They’re community spaces, cultural landmarks, and the place where so many great conversations happen over a well-poured pint. And with more than 30% of drinkers saying big-brand beer feels uninspiring, we see a real opportunity to bring some excitement back to the taps.
Taking Bold Beer on the Road
That’s why The Wandering Inn is heading out on a nationwide journey. Everywhere it goes, we’re sharing our boldest pours, meeting beer lovers face-to-face, and championing the independent brewing scene we’re proud to be part of.
At the heart of this mission is a simple belief we’ve held since day one: beer should be an experience. As our Chair & CEO, Gail Lumsden, puts it:
“Britain’s beer lovers want more choice, more flavour, more adventure – and so do we. Beer should be something that engages you, stays with you, and invites you back.”
The early reactions in Manchester showed exactly that - surprise, curiosity, and lots of smiles. Our tiny pub got people talking, and that’s exactly what we hoped it would do.
And because we love bringing people together, this Christmas we’re asking the nation to nominate the people they’d most like to share a bold pint with. A few lucky winners will receive a bar tab at their local pub - a way for us to spread some joy while supporting the venues that make our communities special.
You can get involved through our Instagram, where we’ll be sharing more from The Wandering Inn’s journey.
