The return of the weekend pub drive

February 17, 2007: The British are abandoning their local pubs and taking to the roads as their hunt for good food sees the resurgence of the old fashioned weekend drive, according to research for a national insurance firm.

Just three in ten (29%) say their regular drinking spot is the pub round the corner, and only 15% eat at their local pub.

	AVOID DRINKING AND DRIVING
	l Choose a pub within walking distance of home l Take a taxi home from the pub, and collect your car the next day l Ask a friend to come and pick you up l Organise a rota system so there is always a designated 'drink-free' driver l Find pubs that are easily accessible by public transport l Make a pact with friends that nobody will drink, so the driver doesn't feel left out

But Brits do love their pub grub. Two-thirds cite good food as the reason for choosing a pub, compared with just 3% who say location. Of those that go out for a pub meal regularly (49%), nearly half (44 %t) will drive more than ten miles to guarantee good food at reasonable prices. And one in 10 is willing to drive more than 20 miles.

Those aged between 18 and 30 are the biggest fans of the gastro pub experience. Two-thirds regularly go out for a pub meal, with more than a third happy to travel for more than 10 miles. But this age group is also the most likely to ignore the drink driving laws, with 5% admitting they accompany their meal with more than the legal limit of alcohol and still drive home.

Only 7% of those in living in the West Midlands eat at the pub round the corner, but it's the Welsh that will travel the furthest for good food. A quarter (24%) of those in the principality say their favourite gastro pub is more than 10 miles from home, compared with just nine per cent of those in living in Yorkshire and Humberside.

James Gore, a spokesman for Privilege Insurance, said: "With so many great gastro pubs out there serving great food at reasonable prices we are seeing the return of the weekend drive, as more and more people travel further afield to try out new places.

"We advise food-loving motorists that, if you do like a drink with your lunch, stick to a pub within walking distance, or be prepared to take a taxi home. Alternatively, you could ask a friend to drive you — as long as they are insured — or take turns being the designated driver."

The research also revealed that drivers on long car journeys are just as keen to have good food. While only 9% of drivers eat at a pub en route, two-thirds (66%) said they would do so if they knew where to go, with over a quarter (26 per cent) willing to make a detour of four miles or more.

Some 80 per cent of all British pubs now serve food, compared with about half in the mid-90s, serving nearly 1.1 billion meals last year. The average pub now gets more than 25% of its turnover from meals.

Janet and William Hutchings, owners of the award-winning Bell, in Skenfirth — identified in Privilege Insurance's Gastro Pub Guide — said: "'We have always placed the utmost importance on the provenance of our food and have only ever used our organic kitchen produce, local and sourced suppliers.

"The Bell is perched on the banks of the River Monnow in one of Wales' smallest and prettiest villages, and our customers come from near and far. They are normally people who appreciate good food, good wines and beers, good exercise and a good sleep!"

Natasha Crowe, (26) a housewife from Torquay loves to find good gastro pubs to drive her family to at the weekend: "My husband and I love eating out and take our kids out for a pub lunch every Sunday.

"We try to always go to a different pub each time, and often travel more than
half an hour to get there. Our local pub is okay, so we tend to pick this one when we fancy a drink and don't need to drive."

n To see Privilege Insurance's Gastro Pub Guide, go to its website.