Calling time on the gastropub

The term gastropub has been bastardised to the extent that it no longer represents establishments which were originally labelled as such, according to one ‘gastropub’ owner in England.

Dominic Worrall, owner of two pubs in Sussex, says he has become uncomfortable with the phrase, for the added reason that it "alienates the drinker".

Worrall told the drinks business: "I find the whole gastropub thing slightly awkward. It’s almost a liberty that some people are taking. If you want a restaurant, call it a restaurant, it’s not right to get on the back of the term gastropub, because in doing so you’re misleading customers."

Worrall, whose website names his pub in Ditchling as a "country pub with rooms" also feels that the inclusion of the word gastro can have an effect on people’s expectations of a pub. He added: "The term alone can alienate the drinker and that’s really important to remember."

However, talking of the rise of the ‘gastropub’ in the UK, Worrall also commented: "Now there’s a generation of pubs that have embraced and exceeded customers’ expectations, which goes to show that just surviving is not enough."

To read the full interview with Worrall, see the August issue of the drinks business.

Jane Parkinson, 06.07.10