MyStar News October 2026

SUSPENSE SELLS OUT

The Fox Pub & Kitchen in Urmston didn’t used to hold events or have a strong community feel. When Luke and Alex took it on, they introduced experiences to give adults more reasons to visit, particularly at the start of the year.

A £39-per-head Murder Mystery Night in January included a three-course meal and the opportunity to play detective and solve a mystery over two to three hours. In February, the pub hosted an immersive evening of mystery and strategy inspired by the hit TV show The Traitors. For £45, diners received a three-course meal, a welcome drink and the chance to win up to £150.

Luke says: “The Murder Mystery Night had 20 places. They sold out within six hours, so we had to run two more similar events in January. The Traitors evening sold out in an hour.

“With both events, we themed the pub. For the murder mystery, we purchased the game online for £30 and read from a script. For The Traitors, we created our own game that was as close to the real show as possible, with games, banishments and murders. We decorated the pub with lanterns and had capes, a Traitor’s shield and, for the final round, a firepit.

“People aged 18 to 80 attended. Competition is rife up and down our road. It is essential that people eating and drinking with us also have great experiences when they visit. It’s what they want, and it sets us apart.”

BRINGING THE WEST END TO THE SUBURBS

Licensee Pete Marshall leverages a showbiz contact to bring some West End theatrical magic to The Kings Arms in Bexleyheath. Once a quarter, performers from some of London’s biggest shows sing greatest hits from well-known musicals while customers eat, drink and enjoy the atmosphere.

Three actors perform three 40-minute sets using radio microphones, allowing them to walk around the pub, engage with customers and encourage them to join in. They also share the stories behind the songs or shows, or explain why they’ve chosen each piece.

Pete says: “It’s a phenomenal night, attracting a wider crowd than our regulars. Our West End nights sell out within 24 hours of being announced on Facebook. Around 80 people attend, paying £10 a head.

“We don’t make money on the ticket price, but we see an uplift of 75–100% in food and drink sales. We’re going to repackage these musical events in 2026 to include dinner in the ticket price.

“Having a contact like mine makes all the difference, as you have to schedule the event around the performers’ availability. Other pubs could put on something similar, but they would need to pay an agent to liaise with the performers, which would increase the cost.”

ZERO-COST EVENTS CREATE A BUZZ

The Stuffed Walrus in Forest Hill puts on zero-cost events to build its community credentials, keep the atmosphere vibrant and encourage people to visit.

In the mornings, there are classes and coffee mornings for new parents, as well as a lunchtime breastfeeding clinic run by a midwife. The pub also runs a lunchtime Tiny Trivia quiz, giving new parents the chance to enjoy a pub quiz with their baby during the day. The pub benefits from room hire fees and food and drink sales.

On Tuesday nights, creative writing courses attract new customers and generate drinks trade. Typically, 10–15 people attend the six-to-eight-week courses, filling one side of the pub on a quiet evening.

Licensee Alex Turner says: “Different people approach us to hold events. We’ve hosted a free hot sauce tasting night, which was great fun and brought in a crowd of 20. The seller benefited from increased profile and sauce sales afterwards.

“We also host board game nights and have screened the finals of The Traitors. That generated a real buzz for minimal effort. We were fully booked, generating food and drink sales.

“For Valentine’s night, we screened a romantic movie. We’ve also hosted a couple of Mario Kart race nights. Our view is that if you’ve got a projector and TVs, why not use them for more than just sport to capture a different audience?

“There are lots of pubs near us, all with a different offering. We try to make the most of what we have. We’re small, friendly and community-focused, and we play to those strengths.”

EASY AND AFFORDABLE COMPETITIVE SOCIALISING

A large, tabletop chess and draughts board sticker has proved an inexpensive way to encourage competitive socialising at The White Horse in Foxton.

The pub already had chess boards behind the bar for customers to use on request, but they weren’t front of mind and had to be balanced alongside glasses. The sticker was ordered from Amazon for £6.99, with separate lettering spelling out ‘draughts’ and ‘chess’ purchased to accompany the board.

Licensee Beverley Wesley says: “We were renovating tables when one of our customers suggested creating a chess table. It was inexpensive and easy to do and, although it’s used indoors, it’s waterproof.

“Players can request chess and draughts pieces from the bar staff. All sorts of people, from parents with children to chess enthusiasts, use it, with some visiting specifically to play chess or pétanque, which we also have in the garden.

“Ours is a really friendly pub where people will ask if anyone fancies a game. The table is a bit different and a talking point. Lots of people admire it and tell their friends. It has brought in new customers, and some even compete for dinner.

“The table is quite striking, so we’re considering doing a couple more.”