Ale drinkers prefer pubs to drinking at home, survey reveals

A YouGov poll shows that 61% of the UK’s regular ale drinkers most enjoy drinking socially in the pub, compared to just 32% of non-ale drinkers.

Only 7% preferred a restaurant and 1% a nightclub, while 23% preferred drinking socially at home.

Another 4% said the a bar, while 2% said other locations,

Of the UK adults who prefer other alcoholic drinks, only 32% preferred the pub, while 35% preferred drinking at home.

Suffolk has a host of independent breweries Picture: RED FLAME COMMS (Image: Archant)

Michael Davey, the chairman of the north-east Suffolk Campain for Real Ale (Camra), said: “When it comes to ale, I think what you get in the supermarket is not cask condition it is bottle condition.

“Pubs serve ale in cask conditions which is better in terms of flavour and so we see more people going to pubs to drink ales.

“There is also the social side, ale drinkers are definitely more social.

“If more people drink ale one can only hope that it give people more of a reason to go the pub.”

Frances Bean is a serious real ale enthusiast from Suffolk Picture: RED FLAME COMMS (Image: Archant)

Frances Brace agreed that the cask conditions of ale has a huge affect on cask beer drinkers in pubs.

She is a huge beer enthusiast from Suffolk and is involved in many national projects involving the brewing of real ale.

Ms Brace is also a director of the Guild of Beer Writers.

She believes that there is a really strong connection with cask beer in Suffolk.

She said: “I think particularly in this area there is an identity that goes with the beer here.

“It’s something you don’t get in more urban areas.

“This area has many amazing breweries and they stay here because this region produces such quality barely that is malted here.

“It’s obviously a key ingredient in beer and it adds to the taste.”

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