What's-on flyers, pub menus, Christmas party leaflets and function room cards
A pub's leaflets do two jobs: a monthly or quarterly what's-on flyer on A5 or DL 170gsm gloss that fills the quiet nights, and laminated or wipe-clean menus that sell food at the table and in the garden. This page sets out what we would print, today's prices, sample layouts, wording, timing through the pub year and the alcohol advertising rules to check.
Pubs have more reasons to print than most businesses because the week has so many parts: food, sport, music, quiz, functions and seasons. These are the jobs we see most.
What's-on calendar
Quiz night, live music, open mic, darts, curry night, the big fixtures. A monthly or quarterly flyer with every date on it goes on tables, the bar and in local shops, and gives regulars a reason to come back midweek.
Food menus
Main menu, Sunday lunch, specials and the kids' menu. A laminated folded menu survives a busy bar; a wipe-clean single sheet suits the beer garden and the snug.
Christmas party and festive menus
Christmas is often a pub's biggest food month. A flyer from September with the festive menu, price per head, dates, deposit and the function room capacity brings in the work and family parties.
Function room and private hire
Birthdays, wakes, christenings, club meetings and buffets. A card or DL flyer with room capacity, buffet options and prices per head answers the questions people ring to ask.
Sport fixtures
A season fixture list for football, rugby or the big tournaments, with the screens and the food offer, keeps sport fans coming in on match days.
Beer festivals and events
A beer festival, a charity fun day or a cider weekend needs its own flyer two to four weeks before, with dates, times, entry and what is on.
Rooms and inn stays
Pubs with rooms leave cards in the bar and at local attractions and wedding venues, with room types and how to book direct.
Recommended leaflets for pubs
What we would print for a pub. The 'from' price is today's live price for the lowest-cost options; the example line is a real configuration pubs order.
Put all three months on one flyer so it stays useful, and hand one to every table when the food goes out. Fixture lists go on the bar on match days.
Saver speed, about 5 working days for the slowest item. Prices are the live Saver prices for exactly these options. Order each item from its own page; one delivery charge covers the basket.
Order the garden menus before Easter so they are out for the first warm weekend.
Saver speed, about 9 working days for the slowest item. Prices are the live Saver prices for exactly these options. Order each item from its own page; one delivery charge covers the basket.
Leave festive flyers at local offices, clubs and the village hall as well as on your own tables.
Saver speed, about 6 working days for the slowest item. Prices are the live Saver prices for exactly these options. Order each item from its own page; one delivery charge covers the basket.
Lines for pub flyers and menus. Put in your own nights, dishes and prices.
Headlines
What's on at the [pub name] this [month]
Quiz every Tuesday, 8.30pm
Sunday roasts, 12 till 5
Christmas at the [pub name]: three courses £[price]
The function room: up to [number] guests
Every big game, three screens, food till 9
Body text
The [pub name] has been the heart of [village or street] since [year]. We serve food every day from [time], roasts every Sunday and a menu that changes with the seasons, with dogs welcome in the bar and a garden for summer. Book a table on [phone] or just come in.
Our function room seats [number] and takes up to [number] standing, with its own bar and toilets and step-free access. Choose from a finger buffet, a hot buffet or a hog roast, priced per head, and room hire is included for parties of [number] or more. Call [name] on [phone] to check dates.
Calls to action
Book a table on [phone]
Pick up next month's what's-on at the bar
Ask behind the bar about the function room
Scan for the full events list
Lead with the events and the food, not the price of drinks: it reads better and stays clear of the alcohol advertising rules.
Put the day and time on every event line. 'Live music Friday' is less useful than 'Fri 9pm'.
When, where and how many
Pub flyers work hardest inside the pub and within walking distance of it. The job is to make regulars come more often and bring other people.
Christmas bookings run from September, summer brings the garden and tournaments, and January is the month to push food and quiz nights.
When to print
Print what's-on flyers a quarter at a time, and have them out a week before the quarter starts. Festive menus go out from mid-September; garden menus before Easter; tournament flyers two weeks before the first match.
How many
Count weekly visitors: a flyer for every table plus a stack at the bar usually means 300 to 500 per quarter for a local pub. For Christmas, add a few hundred for offices, clubs and the village hall.
Where
On every table, at the bar in a holder, in the toilets' noticeboard, at local shops, the village hall, sports clubs, and with every food bill. Offices within a mile are worth visiting in September with festive menus.
What response to expect
Flyers handed to people already in the pub bring the best return, because they turn one visit a week into two. Door drops around a pub can work for a relaunch or new food offer; expect responses from a small share of households, a few per thousand, and judge it on bookings rather than footfall.
Paper, size and finish for pubs
Gloss for flyers, laminated card for menus, synthetic for outside.
Job
Size
Paper
Finish
Why
What's-on flyer
A5
170gsm gloss
None
Stands on a table, bright colours, low cost per quarter.
Table food menu
A4 folded to A5
350gsm silk board
Gloss lamination both sides
Survives beer, gravy and a nightly wipe.
Beer garden menu
A4
Waterproof synthetic
Wipe-clean
Rain, sun and spills do not mark it.
Function room card
DL
350gsm silk card
None
Feels like a brochure, fits a jacket pocket.
Specials insert
A5
170gsm silk
None
Cheap to change weekly; can be written on.
Pubs are dim. Use at least 10pt for menu text and avoid gold or grey text on dark backgrounds.
Before you print: rules for pubs
Pub leaflets that mention alcohol are covered by the advertising rules on alcohol, and drinks promotions by the licensing conditions. These are the points to check.
CAP Code rules on alcohol
Alcohol ads must not be aimed at or likely to appeal particularly to under-18s, must not link drinking with social, sexual or sporting success, and must not encourage irresponsible or excessive drinking or imply alcohol improves mood or confidence. People shown drinking must look over 25.
In England and Wales, mandatory licensing conditions ban irresponsible promotions, such as unlimited drinks for a fixed price or offers that encourage drinking quickly. Check any drinks deal against those conditions and your own premises licence.
Many drinks producers follow the Portman Group code on naming, packaging and promotion. If a leaflet uses a brewer's or distiller's branding, the brand owner may have its own rules to follow.
Allergen information for the 14 regulated allergens must be available for all food, on the menu or on request, and any service charge should be shown on the menu.
This is a printer's checklist, not legal advice. Check with your licensing authority and the ASA's advice service before printing drinks offers.
Questions about leaflets for pubs
What size should a pub what's-on flyer be?
A5 printed on both sides fits a month or quarter of weekly events on the front and one-off events and the food offer on the back. DL works for a single event or a fixture list. Print on 170gsm so it stands up on a table.
How often should a pub print a what's-on flyer?
Quarterly suits most pubs: it keeps the cost down and gives you time to plan events. Put weekly nights as a grid by day and one-off events by date so the flyer stays useful for three months.
Can a pub advertise drinks deals on a leaflet?
Yes, but alcohol ads must follow the CAP Code (not aimed at under-18s, no link to social or sexual success, no encouragement to drink excessively), and promotions must not breach the mandatory licensing conditions on irresponsible promotions. Check with your licensing authority if unsure.
What is the best menu for a beer garden?
A waterproof synthetic menu. It does not mark in rain or sun, wipes clean of spilt drinks and costs less than laminating card. A4 printed on both sides covers most garden menus.
When should pubs print Christmas menus?
By mid-September. Office and club parties are often booked by October. Put flyers on tables and at the bar, and leave them at offices, clubs and the village hall with price per head, dates and deposit terms.
Should pub menus be laminated?
Main table menus, yes: lamination protects against beer and gravy and lets staff wipe them down. Do not laminate specials inserts you change weekly or anything you write on.
Can you design our pub flyer?
Yes. Send your events, menu and logo through our Artwork and Design Service. Every upload is checked automatically for size, bleed and resolution; add File check (£4.99) if you want a person to look it over before print.
Leaflets Printed uses essential cookies so the basket and checkout work. If you agree, Google Analytics cookies also tell us which pages help people find the right leaflet. Optional cookies stay off unless you switch them on. Cookie policy.