As the world continues to battle Covid-19, governments across Europe have extended lockdowns to curb the pandemic, which means bars have to adapt to stay in business.

However, these continued restrictions have not deterred the bar industry, with many bars experimenting with new services and novel ways to stay connected with customers and keep their spirits high.

Getting creative and going virtual

Every company has had to rethink how they operate to comply with Covid-19 restrictions and the bar industry is not exempt from this.
A handful of creative bar owners have turned to virtual services to keep customers engaged during these unprecedented times – one of these bars is BrewDog, which is offering a slew of virtual events for its customers to connect and foster camaraderie.
Earlier this year (during the first lockdown), BrewDog launched BrewDog Open Arms, an online platform for its customers to watch live performances from The Libertines, Razor Light, and most recently KT Tunstall.
Recreating in-bar experiences virtually and hosting interactive events that feature classic bar entertainment such as quizzes, comedy shows, and live music is a great tactic to keep customers at home engaged.

Drink Delivery

Another tactic to keep your customers engaged is offering a drinks delivery and pick-up service – this is a smart way to secure a steady cash flow and create a new stream of income without incurring too many infrastructure costs.
The rise of delivery services and cocktails on demand
Consumers’ use of food delivery services is rapidly increasing, presenting an opportunity for bars to offer new services that will be well received by customers.
Statista research forecasts the market value for food delivery services will grow 8.2%, resulting in a projected market volume of €25,356m by 2024. 72% of Italian consumers surveyed have tried a chilled meal kit and 41% of Polish consumers have shopped online for groceries in the last 6 months. Statista research also shows 46% of Brits are drinking the same amount of alcohol they would usually consume before the pandemic, and 17% have increased the amount they drink.

The opportunity to sell alcohol via delivery services is there – consumers are already familiar with food delivery services which bars can emulate to generate new streams of income, whilst remaining compliant with Covid-19 regulations.

Flying Ideas at Flying Dutchman Cocktails

Flying Dutchman Cocktails, in Amsterdam, has launched a cocktail delivery and click and collect service allowing customers to have access to high-quality cocktails on demand. Flying Dutchman Cocktails is also offering a subscription service delivering vacuum-sealed cocktails, freshly prepared and packaged to keep them in an optimal condition and includes the appropriate garnishes you would expect from a high-quality cocktail bar.

This is a smart move that will allow Flying Dutchman Cocktails to continue maintaining a relationship with its customers outside of the bar’s physical space. This is also an opportunity to reach new customers that haven’t had the chance to visit the bar but can now experience expertly crafted cocktails from the comfort of their own home.