One In Five Brits Brew A Business Idea At The Pub

The British pub has always been a place for free-flowing ideas, and Brits are generating, developing, and launching businesses from their local boozer, according to new polling commissioned by GoDaddy.

The nationwide survey of 2,000 Brits found the pub is becoming an unlikely source of entrepreneurial inspiration. One in three Brits (31%) have come up with either a business (18%) or website (13%) idea whilst at the pub.

Younger age demographics were particularly likely to take inspiration from a trip to the pub. One in three (32%) under-35s came up with a business idea over a drink, and a further quarter (23%) devised a website idea.

Brits are also turning their local into a start-up accelerator. More than one in five (21%) say they’ve discussed their pre-existing business idea over a few drinks.

Far from being forgotten in the morning, these ideas are being actualised at speed. Over one in 10 (12%) say they’ve gone on to purchase a domain immediately after leaving the pub.

This highlights just how quick and accessible setting up a business can be. Separate research by the GoDaddy Small Business Research lab found 18% of digital small business owners reported startup costs of less than £500.

Tools, such as GoDaddy Airo, enable entrepreneurs to quickly launch domains, build websites, and market their businesses. With 35% of business owners having used AI for their business in recent months, the majority (57%) reported a positive impact on their operations.

Analysis of the pub-born ideas found retail & ecommerce businesses (9%) were most likely to be created over a pint. This was followed by tech (9%), pet care (7.5%), fashion (7.5%), and hospitality (7.5%).

Some ideas may have come slightly later in the night than others. A ‘crufts’ for talentless dogs; a park inside a warehouse; and chewing gum that never loses its flavour, were among the more outside-the-box business plans.

Dominic Radcliffe, 38, spent an evening discussing a business idea with friends at The Army & Navy pub in Newington Green, London. Dominic said:
“I first made and tried nettle tea during the pandemic when I was struggling with symptoms from Covid. I drank it every day for weeks and felt amazing. Looking into it further, it seemed that there was a gap in the market as people didn’t understand the incredible nutritional benefits of nettles. They were seen as common weeds.

“I’d come up with a name  – Heavy Nettle – but it wasn’t until I discussed the idea over pints with a mate at The Army & Navy that I started to realise it could become a real thing. He encouraged me to go for it so I did – I bought the domain and registered the trademark there and then.

“Pubs are the perfect environment to discuss and improve on nascent ideas. They are cultural hubs where people come together to exchange thoughts and get into topics great and small. With that in mind, emboldened by a pint or two, it’s no surprise ideas start to become a reality.”

Alexandra Rosen, Economist and Head of the GoDaddy Small Business Research Lab, said:
“Beyond being a social space, pubs are increasingly a place for people to gain inspiration, test ideas, and take their first steps towards entrepreneurialism. Across multiple years of work with Frontier Economics, we’ve seen a consistent relationship: increases in digital microbusinesses correlate with higher wages, additional local jobs and measurable gains in GDP at the local level.”