Essential Drinks Every Pub and Bar Should Stock for Summer 2025
Summer 2025 is just around the corner, and now’s the time to start planning your drinks menu. Longer days and warmer weather mean higher footfall, more families and friends dining al fresco, and an opportunity to increase the variety of your venue's drink offering.
Drinkers today expect much more than a typical cold beer. They expect options that suit every lifestyle, such as refreshing IPAs, fruity ciders, refreshing alcohol-free options, and even cocktails they can show off on social media. A well-planned drink list is the best way to optimise spend per head and dwell time.
Greene King Free Trade’s Value for Venues has you covered for high-quality seasonal stock options to drive sales whilst keeping happy customers returning. We can help make sure your bar is summer-ready.
Why Summer Drinks Are So Important For Pubs and Beer Gardens
Outside drinking and dining areas are crucial for venues as they increase footfall. When you need to pull in the punters, beer gardens and terraces become prime spaces during the summer months to help cater for larger groups, such as family lunches or after-work drinks.
Strong summertime offerings lead to better customer retention and longer dwell time. Customers stick around longer for a second (or third) drink when they know their favourite cider on tap or a new low-calorie spritz on the menu.
There is also an increasing number of customers who want non-alcoholic drink options, from designated drivers to health-conscious customers, which means venues need drinks that are appealing to a broad audience.
Value for Venues makes this easy. Our curated seasonal summer range will boost profits while satisfying customers’ preferences.
Top Alcoholic Drinks to Stock This Summer
The Ultimate Beer Garden Beers
Beer is the most popular drink choice. Customers prefer light, easy-to-drink, refreshing beer during hotter months.
Session ales like Level Head and Greene King IPA and lagers like Estrella Galicia and Flint Eye are perfect for a summer selection and are great paired with a BBQ-styled food menu.
Ciders are also increasingly popular in the summer. There has never been a time when the range of flavoured ciders has been so broad. Your customers will expect to see draught options like Strongbow, Magners and Aspall, and packaged options such as Kopparberg and Rekorderling.
With the rise of moderation and mindful drinking, low-ABV and alcohol-free beers should not be overlooked. Having at least one or two options in this category is essential.
Summer Cocktails That Sell
Cocktail sales are no longer exclusive to cocktail bars. Spritz-style drinks will be among the top-selling bar drinks for summer 2025. Consider serving crisp Limoncello Spritz, Hugo Spritz with elderflower and mint, or Aperol Spritz in large wine glasses full of iced and sliced citrus.
Flavoured gin and tonic now come in a variety of flavours. Blood orange, pink grapefruit, or rhubarb can make your gin selection more varied. Pairing them with premium tonics or elderflower soda will make them simple yet sophisticated.
For those seeking something visibly fun, frozen cocktails and slushies are perfect for busy beer gardens. They offer big margins and a must-have Instagram aesthetic. Strawberry Daiquiris, Piña Coladas, and Boozy Frosé can be served from machines or freshly blended to order.
Premium Spirit to Profit
Premium spirits yield the highest margins with the least effort required to upsell. In summer, flavoured vodkas, tequilas, and tropical rums can be effortlessly incorporated into refreshing long drinks that are easy to make and serve.
For speed and consistency, pre-mixed cocktails are an excellent option. These are particularly useful at pop-up counters and outdoor bars where time and space are restricted.
Family Friendly & Non-Alcohol Free Beer & Ciders
Offering no and low-alcohol options is now considered mainstream. Stocking these drinks means that you can cater for everyone, including parents, designated drivers and daytime drinkers who may prefer to remain sober.
The modern consumer is more discerning than ever, and several trends are shaping the soft drinks market:
In 2024, 74% of UK adults actively moderated their alcohol intake, and 56% plan to reduce consumption further. This shift creates a golden opportunity for venues to diversify their non-alcoholic offerings.
Look for alcohol-free lagers that are still refreshing, or try 0% IPAs that don’t compromise on taste. Many brands have mastered the mouthfeel and flavour of traditional brews.
Mocktails with a wow factor
Mocktails present a golden opportunity to upsell. Here are a few easy-to-make recipes that combine versatility and profit:
- Apple Flower Fizz
- Ingredients: Schweppes Elderflower Tonic, cloudy apple juice, lime juice.
- Serve with an apple slice garnish for a refreshing twist.
- Gingerbread Fizz
- Ingredients: Schweppes Lemonade, gingerbread syrup, lime juice.
- Garnish with candied ginger for a festive vibe.
- Coffee Tonic
- Ingredients: Schweppes Indian Tonic, cold brew coffee, agave syrup.
- A sophisticated, caffeine-infused option for non-alcohol drinkers.
Mocktails cater to alcohol-free preferences and offer higher profit margins than standard soft drinks.
Maximising Sales with a Smart Summer Strategy
Summer provides an opportunity to refresh your drink menu and marketing strategy. Longer and warmer days mean people spend more time out of home.
Here’s how to make your drinks menu work harder this summer:
- Pair with food: Create combo deals like “burger & pint” or “cocktail & nibbles” to drive upsells.
- Offer happy hours or summer specials: Limited-time pricing encourages early-evening visits and bigger orders.
- Utilise beer garden space: Outdoor bars and mobile drink stations improve speed of service and increase volume.
- Train your team: Empower staff to upsell drinks and make suggestions confidently.
Clear signage, seasonal menus, and consistent promotions can dramatically increase your drinks revenue over the summer months.
Stock up with Greene King Free Trade’s Value for Venues
Getting the right drinks, reliable deliveries, and the right level of support can help your venue become a summer destination. We can help curate a summer drinks menu to keep customers returning while delivering healthy margins.
In addition to products, we offer business advice, financial support, and promotional services to help you take your business to the next level. So you can count on us whether you’re stocking a high-volume beer garden or crafting a summer cocktail menu.
Cheers to full beer gardens, refreshed customers, and record-breaking summer sales.
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FAQs
- What are the best drinks to serve in a beer garden in 2025?
Think session lagers & ales, fruit ciders, spritz cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks. - How can I boost drinks sales this summer?
Use food pairings, promotions, outdoor service stations, and staff training to upsell and attract more customers. - What’s trending for non-drinkers in pubs?
Premium soft drinks, artisan lemonades, alcohol-free IPAs, and fruity mocktails. - Why should I use Value for Venues?
They offer cost-effective stock, seasonal insight, and tailored advice for pubs and bars. - How soon should I stock up for summer?
Now! Beat the rush and plan ahead with Value for Venues to avoid missing out on top sellers.
