Why January is the best month to go to the pub.

Christmas has been and gone and we are now in the cold and dark of January. Let’s not be coy here, January sucks for pub operators. It’s never been the easiest of months, but once the concept of ‘dry January’ became ingrained into the mainstream it is now, generally, outright terrible.

To combat this, there is usually a slew of articles released in the first few days of the new year trying to coax people back out to the pub. This is mostly by focusing on the availability of low & no, and grown up soft drinks. ‘Hey, you don’t have to drink booze at the pub, you could try these instead’ they will say. This is all well and good, and is no doubt informative to many readers, but I always wonder how successful these attempts to get people out their front doors and into venues are. Do people really read about the best ten alcohol free beers and then walk down to their local to see if they have any of them? I’m not convinced.

There is far more to pubs than just what’s in your glass. Maybe giving people reasons to go out rather than just recommending products might be a different angle to try. With that in mind here are some of the reasons why I think January might arguably be the best month to head to the pub, regardless of what you’re drinking.

1. A reason to get out of the house.

January is boring, it’s cold and it’s dark and most people go into semi hibernation, only leaving the house for essential activities, like work, before retreating straight back home. Personally, if I live like this for too long I start to feel cooped up. I have a need to get out, get some air in my lungs and stretch my legs. Deciding to go for a drink after dinner is a great way to resolve this. A brisk winters walk for ten or fifteen minutes is far more appealing knowing there is a warm and welcoming pit stop at the other end. Which leads me onto my second reason.

2. Warmth.

Many pub have fire places and/or wood burning stoves . Fires are great. They appeal to our primal selves. Sitting by a fire on a cold day is an almost unbeatable vibe in my opinion. If your house doesn’t have a fireplace or wood burning stove then going to a pub that does and sitting near it is a real treat. If you’re lucky enough that your house does have a fireplace then the treat is that someone else is tending to it. It was probably already roaring by the time you arrived, the bar staff will keep it topped up and burning, and it’s not your responsibility to make sure it’s safe when you leave.

3. Become a regular.

I’ll let you into a secret. statistically you don’t have to go to a pub that often to become a regular. According to a 2023 study by Statista only nine percent of surveyed adults said they went to the pub once a week. So if you go four times in a month, even for one single drink, you are in the top bracket of customers by frequency. If you head out to the same pub on the same evening every week in the first couple of months of the year it will get noticed very quickly by the staff and the publican. You will become a known entity. They will appreciate the dedication you showed their business in the quiet months and it’s likely to be repaid in due course by any number of possible outcomes. In the past I have received bottles of rare beers, entry into sold out events, lock ins, free pints, business tip offs and much more from publicans of my chosen pub at that time. I go to the pub once a week and that’s generally it. I don’t go to the pub once a week and expect anything back for it, beyond a nice time, but any good business will generally find ways to look after their most loyal customers.

4. Examine the pub.

Pubs are interesting places. They are often old interesting buildings, often with interesting interiors and decor. When a pub is busy it is sometimes hard to appreciate this. January, when the crowds have died away, is the perfect opportunity for properly examining your chosen pub. I once went for a pint by myself in my local and made a point to study every single framed picture on the walls. It was fascinating. Similarly, at a previous local of mine, I spent a couple of hours analysing the community bookshelf in the corner. These were things I walked past and sat by regularly and never gave much time to before. On both occasions I left with a new appreciation for that pub and its role within the local area. A good pub will revel in its history, or embrace it’s modernity. It will reflect its clientele and its community. It is incredible how much can be gleaned from taking the time to actually look at a place. In January, you have the time to take and space to do so.

5. Ingratiate yourself into the community.

When a pub is quiet it is far more likely that customers will interact with each other. January might be the perfect time to strike up conversation with that person that’s usually sitting at the bar when you come in. The pub is the social hub of the community and everyone knows someone. This is particularly relevant if you are new to an area. A few evenings spent interacting with some locals in January and you’ll soon have a collection of associates/friends, depending on how well it goes. You will also know all the best takeaways, schools and sports facilities in the area. Chances are you will also know at least one of every tradesperson you would ever need, or at least know someone who can link you to them. Those same connections are much harder to make when a pub is rammed to the rafters in December and everyone is with their own groups.

So give it a go, get your big coat and your boots on and head out to your local in January, have a alcohol free beer, have a virgin mojito, have an double IPA or a vodka red bull, have whatever you want. Ultimately the pub experience is more than the liquid you chose at the bar.