‘Going to a pub can be quite daunting,’ Katie Baldock tells Metro.
‘If you haven’t been before, you don’t know what it’s going to be like. Is it an old man pub? Will all the regulars stare at you when you walk in? Does the wine taste like vinegar?’
The 32-year-old runs The Bird in Hand in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, and has been working in boozers for years.
As such, she knows exactly what kind of reputation they’ve held, but lately she’s noticed a shift.’It’s not just about getting p***ed anymore,’ she proclaims. ‘It’s about community.’
And she’s not wrong. Research by The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) found that one in five women now see pubs as the most crucial part of the community, while almost half of women rank the pub in the top three most important assets when deciding where to live.
How are pubs changing?
Emma McClarkin, the chief executive of BBPA, believes pubs are becoming a ‘sanctuary’ for women as well as men.
‘We know that there has been a rise in women going to the pub and I think it’s because they’ve fundamentally changed,’ she tells Metro.
‘A lot of pubs and bars like your Slug & Lettuces and Drake & Morgans are investing in things like interior design, cocktail ranges, and beers that are more approachable for women.
‘Pubs are very modern environments now, and it’s not all about drinking -my local in Gloucestershire hosted a Knit Night this week. It’s this sort of thing that’s making women feel safe and comfortable to go on their own.’
The Bird in Hand has also been mixing up its event offerings. As well as quiz nights and live music, Katie has been hosting everything from tipsy painting sessions to jewellery making.
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‘The workshops have been a game-changer because they’ve brought a lot of women in, especially ones who haven’t come in before,’ she says.
The refreshed wine list has also helped.
‘When I started, the wine offering was rubbish,’ she admits. ‘I love drinking wine, as do my friends, but I couldn’t help thinking that if I came to this pub with my friends and we got a bottle, I’d be really disappointed.
‘It took me a little while to convince the owner, but we now have a much higher standard. We still have your Pinot and Pinot Blush, but we’ve also got stuff like Viognier, and I’m really proud of that.
‘Women like to drink pints as well, but I think having something for everyone is key.’
For big chains like Greene King, it’s adding coffee to the menu that’s made a big difference.
Speaking on the BBC’s Big Boss Interview podcast, CEO Nick Mackenzie claimed cafes and coffee shops have become major rivals for pubs, especially as the younger generations drink less alcohol.
‘They’re taking away leisure time from the pub.’
As such, Nick claims Greene King’s coffee offering is now ‘credible’, and they’re selling more hot drinks than ever before.
Being able to sit and enjoy a coffee is a factor as to why Fiona Harrold loves visiting her local, The Telegraph.
‘It’s a home away from home’
Situated on the edge of Putney Heath, Fiona, who works in PR, says the pub has become a real ‘home away from home’ for her.
The 57-year-old goes there at least twice a week by herself, to have a drink or a meal, get some work done with a coffee, and meet others from the local community.
‘It’s beautiful and cosy, not like a smelly, old-fashioned pub,’ she says. ‘You’d hardly know you were in London, it feels a bit like stepping into the country because of its location.’
One of the biggest selling points for Fiona is that there’s no TV, so nobody is yelling about football. Instead, people are engaging with one another and being ‘friendly’.
This has meant that Fiona, who has only lived in the area for a few months, has been able to get to know her neighbours very quickly.
‘I see them in there all the time, and all the staff now recognise me and know me. One of the girls who works there has even become my mobile lash technician.’
She adds: ‘I live on my own and sometimes it’s nice to have somewhere to go for warmth and companionship, and also just to enjoy listening to the chatter of other people. I get a lovely table, have a meal and a glass of wine occasionally too.
‘I never feel out of place going there alone, and there are plenty of other women who are going there solo as well.’
And she’s not the only woman reclaiming the pub as a safe space.
Milly Oaten, 26, also likes to go to her local pub in London to ‘soak up the atmosphere’.
‘The pub makes me feel less alone’
The pub is the first place Milly heads if she has no plans, as she says it makes her feel ‘less alone’.
‘It has a vibe that is completely unmatched and elite, no matter the season, no cafe could ever compare to the character of a pub,’ she claims.
‘I love being able to soak up the different characters and storylines that might be about to unfold that night.’
Friday evenings are her favourite time to visit to ‘decompress’ after a busy work week.
‘One of my pals is always free on Friday at the same time as me, but we would never arrange to go to the pub together. We like to go on our own.
‘At the end of the week, I always feel super overstimulated. A [solo pub trip] is my way to unwind and decompress.’
Milly thinks it’s ‘become easier’ in recent years to go to the pub on your own as a woman in London, as they are ‘shinier’. However, for her own well-being, she likes to be out of the pub by 7pm at the latest.
‘I always try to vacate the pub by 7ish as no one wants to be the person hogging the best seat in a packed place!
‘This is also when the rowdiness starts, and I want to protect my inner peace from men thinking they can join my table, so respectfully, I’m off.’
Katie also has many female locals at her pub, who like to come on their own.
‘We have one lady who is divorced and lives on her own, and we see her a lot. She said if it weren’t for the pub, she wouldn’t have a social life.
‘We also get a lot of other women who come in to work on their laptops or sit and read books and have a moment for themselves. And a few like to enjoy a drink at the bar and chat with the staff.’
And she’s worked hard to make the pub feel like a safe space for all of them – refusing to tolerate any bad behaviour from men.
‘It rarely happens, but if anyone hears a guy saying something off to a woman, we’re on them,’ she says.
Do you ever go to the pub solo?
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‘We’re a female-led pub, and we won’t accept any form of derogatory language towards anyone. We squash it instantly.
‘I had one guy when I started who would chat up women in a seedy way, so I had a talk with him, but he carried on doing it. He was asked to leave and wasn’t allowed back.’
The landlady adds that she very rarely gets uncomfortable herself when visiting other pubs these days, but still feels some places have work to do to become more welcoming for women.
‘Pubs are one of the last places where we still find real face-to-face interaction, and we must diversify to appeal to as many people as possible so we can keep that going.’
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