Pints making way for hi-tech pub hubs where the community can work and play

The humble watering hole is set to take on a different life, as a new report reveals what the future will hold for Aussie pubs.

Forget about heading to the pub simply for a pint.

Aussies could soon be using the humble watering hole as a second office or to play arcade games, while patrons will be paying for their drinks with crypto, using the metaverse to see where their meals have come from and adjusting the music from their tables as technology paves the way for a new kind of pub experience.

The latest hospitality report from me&u has revealed the pub we know and love will look very different in 10 years’ time – it could serve as a workspace away from home, a community meeting centre or even a place to host regular knitting clubs or mothers’ groups.

Of the 1276 Australians surveyed for the report, almost 80 per cent expect the pub to become more flexible as a space and adapt to different needs across the week, while about half want pubs to become more diverse and family-friendly.

The report found drinking will no longer be the main pub drawcard come 2032, with activities such as ping-pong, darts and minigolf expected to be offered in most venues.

Australian Hotels Association NSW deputy chief executive Sean Morrissey says pubs are evolving to become more community focused.

“We’ve seen an evolution in the pub space … play areas, bistros, and family friendly areas,” Morrissey explains.

“There’s very much an active shift towards venues having a very broad offering.”

Working from home could soon be replaced by working from a community pub hub.

The me&u report found the pub will act as Australia’s “third place” – a midway point between home and work where Aussies can meet up with family, friends and new people.

The Komo, an up-market beachside pub at Redcliffe in Queensland, is already embracing the concept of becoming a “diverse space” and “community hub”.

Events and marketing manager Sarah Casey says local sporting clubs use The Komo as a centre for everything from dinners and family gatherings to presentation nights.

The Komo’s loyalty card initiative offers two-for-one meals on Mondays and food and beverage discounts, encouraging local sporting clubs to spend more time at the pub and treat it like “their place”.

“It really is more than just a pub here. The local community as a whole sort of uses this as a meeting point for all of their celebrations,” Casey says.

“Gone are the days that pubs are for the local tradies to come down and have a beer. More pubs these days are becoming more of a community hub, rather than just a general drinking hole.”

The next 10 years will also see the rise of hyper-personalised venues, with data and personalisation set to power the pubs of the future.

More than half of those surveyed say they are more likely to frequent venues that offer personalised experiences, including having the ability to adjust the lighting and choose the music.

Ping pong, darts and mini golf are expected to be entertaining patrons within the next decade.

Fifty-four per cent say they will opt for a pub that incorporates personalised menus and tailored beverage recommendations, while more than half like the idea of previewing a pub through “the metaverse” before booking a table – potential patrons would virtually tour a venue to decide if it’s a place where they want to spend time and money.

Venues could even provide private spaces where the experience is completely unique to each group of diners.

Me&u is predicting an increase in “meta-events” that create immersive experiences for diners – while sitting at the bar, they could be virtually transported to the farm where the food they’re eating is sourced.

And while the traditional pub may look different come 2032, most Aussies (85 per cent) say they still value human interaction and the people behind the pub.

Komo events and marketing manager Sarah Casey and Redcliffe Leagues hockey club member Paul Greentree.

COMMUNITY HUB

Paul Greentree, 61, has been playing hockey on and off with the Redcliffe Leagues Hockey Club in Queensland for 35 years, but credits the local pub with building a heightened sense of community for its members.

While it has its own clubhouse, the club now holds more meetings, planning days and its social events at the Komo due to its superior facilities and generosity.

“That’s why the relationship with the pub is great because it offers more space where we can accommodate more people,” he says, adding it’s often given free or at a discounted rate.

The pub provides vouchers for players of the match, items and prizes for fundraising and membership cards offering meal deals. “The modern pubs these days are not just the public bar and a dining area, they’ve also got other spaces that are available. The Komo has a boardroom, and that’s not something that you would normally associate with a pub.”

Greentree encourages all sorts of sporting and community groups to approach their local pub to build a relationship.

Originally published as Pints making way for hi-tech pub hubs where the community can work and play