We’ve all got our favourites. For me, it’s the under-appreciated scampi fry. For others, it’s the packet of salt and vinegar crisps communally split open across a sticky table, or the pork scratchings that might leave you needing a visit to the dentist.
The humble bar snack has been part of UK social culture for well over a century and still plays an important role for punters and publicans in 2025. Patrons get an ever-expanding choices of (very salty) snacks to graze on over a drink. Landlords use them to generate incremental, high margin sales or, given that some snacks are a loss leader, simply appeal to a wider customer base in a difficult market.
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In this piece we look at how the pub snack has changed over the years and try to discover what the nation’s favourite is in 2025.
How have pub snacks changed over time?
We’ve come a long way from the days when Victorians were downing oysters with their stout, but the pub snack’s function hasn’t changed much through the decades.
It’s the age-old adage – boozers want punters to gorge on salty snacks that keep them thirsty.
Crisps started popping up as an option in British pubs during the first half of the 20th century and quickly became the nation’s favourite – with one manufacturer dominating the market.
In 1934, 200 million packets of crisps were sold in Britain each year, and 95% of them were made by Smith’s. Their timeless Salt ‘n’ Shake crisps were everywhere.
After the Second World War, KP brought peanuts into the equation, with pork scratchings and pickles also popping up on bar shelves.
As pubs began to compete for space with fast food, more substantial items began appearing.
From the 1960s, ham and cheese rolls wrapped in cling film were an option, before sausage rolls, pasties and pies kept warm under a heater were found on…
