Business
Climate
Durham
Energy
Enviroment
Enviromental
Environment
Food & Drink
Hospitality
Newcastle
North East
North East News
Northumberland
Peterlee
Sunderland
Technology
Teesside
ONE of Newcastle’s most popular bar restaurants is rolling out a huge alcohol-free menu to meet popular demand from its younger drinkers.
The City Tavern at Northumberland Road, Newcastle, has added alcohol-free versions of its most popular tipples, after discovering a growing trend in younger customers who don’t drink.
Now, visitors can enjoy non-alcoholic lager, cider, gin, a vast wine list and even Prosecco.
Recent figures reveal that 23 per cent of people aged 16-24 are choosing to be tee-total, while 21 per cent of 25-44-year-olds are also opting to ditch the booze.*
The pub, which is renowned for its craft ales, gluten-free and vegan alternatives and quality food, has now adopted the extended alcohol free menu to cater for this crowd.
“If you look at research, it’s fascinating to see that so many people aged 18 to 25 are now choosing not to drink alcohol,” said City Tavern owner David King. “These are people who don’t have religious or health reasons, it’s just simply through choice.
“This is a big portion of our customer base and it isn’t good enough to just fob them off with a fizzy drink or water if they don’t want alcohol.
“Alcohol-free has now become a huge part of the industry and there are some amazing products now available, so we were keen to get in there now and offer the best selection we possibly could.”
The City Tavern has been stocking alcohol free lager for many years, but this is now joined by a berry and cherry cider, Seedlip, a non-alcoholic gin, Blutul vermouth, a full range of red, white and rose wines and Codorniu zero alcohol cava, all available by the glass as well as by the bottle.
“When you look at drinking habits over the last decade or so, they have changed dramatically,” added Mr King. “There was a time when people wouldn’t walk into a bar unless they wanted alcohol.
“Now we find so many younger people are simply not interested in having an alcoholic drink, but they also don’t want to be drinking Coke or lemonade while their friends are enjoying nice ales or spirits.
“Drinks like the Cava are perfect for receptions and weddings too, as now there’s an alternative to the traditional orange juice, and it’s great to also be able to offer things like Martini, or a nice glass of wine with meals.”
The City Tavern now offers its large alcohol-free range alongside its already vast drink menu, which includes more than 60 gins, craft ales and guest cask ales, wines, spirits and cocktails.
For further information about the City Tavern, visit www.citytavern.co.uk