Thwaites Ramps Up Investment In Consumer Offering With New Initiatives This Summer

Leading Northern brewer Thwaites is launching two major new initiatives and revamping a number of existing schemes designed to provide greater support to all leased and tenanted pubs and improve retail standards and overall customer service.

The two new initiatives are a mystery visitor programme called INNcognito and an innovative new online package called Pubs Online which aims to provide all Thwaites pubs with a digital presence.

INNcognito, which launches in July, encourages pub customers to report back on their visits to Thwaites pubs via an online questionnaire. They will be asked to rate the service, their drinks and where applicable, the food. All pubs will receive two mystery visits per year, provided by Thwaites free of charge. Additional visits can be purchased at cost.

Pubs Online, which also launches in July will provide all pubs with a free online presence. This will ensure that consumers can easily view what facilities are on offer at their local pub or in a particular area they intend to visit. 

Pubs will then be given the opportunity of a dedicated website development service with hosting and maintenance managed by an expert internal team. Thwaites will offer to provide this dedicated URL and SEO package to all tenanted and leased pubs at for a minimal cost in its first year of operation with entry costs starting at just £5 per week. 

Thwaites award-winning TULIP (Thwaites Unique Licensee Introduction Programme) training course for new licensees has also had a significant overhaul. The enhanced scheme has been adapted to reflect the wide range of new services available to pub managers and tenants.

After a successful trial at Easter, Thwaites will also be running its own Cask Ale Festivals in pub throughout the remainder of the year. This initiative is designed to appeal to the growing demand for quality cask conditioned ales in addition to appealing to new drinkers.

Thwaites pubs will also be supporting the ‘It’s Better Down The Pub’ initiative, a national consumer campaign to celebrate Britain’s passion for pubs. The scheme will encourage pub goers to share their experiences and highlight why they love pubs via a website and social media channels.

On the entertainment front, Thwaites is also offering its customers 30 per cent off their Sky TV deal in conjunction with Molson Coors and Sky.

Andrew Buchanan, director of pub operations said: “Thwaites continues to invest significant levels in its pub estate and provide as much support and expertise to ensure each business is a success. We are providing maximum support to our tenanted customers to ensure that they have the necessary toolkit and skills in place plus all the material they need to provide guests in Thwaites pubs with a varied range of quality products and services, activities and entertainment.

“Along with these tools that our customers can access and use in the day to day running of their business, we have fully reviewed our current ways of working.  Our focus is on driving the quality agenda with our tenants and ultimately, their business profitability. ”