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.
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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 bars.
During COVID one of the biggest discussion points for a few weeks was whether a Scotch egg constituted a snack or a meal.
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The era of variety
Fast-forward to the present day and the bar snack staples remain pretty much everywhere – crisps, peanuts and pork scratchings. That holy trinity can almost always be found in one shape or form.
But Pandora’s Box has opened since the turn of the millennium, and our snack choices as punters have reached unprecedented levels.
Some pubs make themselves known for going above and beyond with their offerings.
It’s not uncommon to find olives, pretzels, jerky and popcorn available in some boozers, or even huge jars of pickles, eggs or chillis, blocking the sight of the lonely pack of Mini Cheddars hidden away behind the bar.
LovePubSnacks.com supplies more than 5,000 pubs and bars across the UK and says some of its quirkier products include smoked pheasant and wild mushroom crisps and their hugely popular poppadoms, which have to be served with a separate mango chutney dip.
And it’s not just humans being catered for. LovePubSnacks also sells snacks for our furry companions, with Paw Scratchies, Bark Bangers and Sir Woofchesters all flying off the shelves.
The posh nosh
Variety rarely comes cheap, and the UK has witnessed a steady rise in more gourmet offerings in pubs during the past 20 years.
Don’t be shocked when you enter some watering holes to see an entire “bar bites” section on the food menu, with chicken wings, pork belly bites or some £17 slow-cooked octopus ready to accompany your drink.
Many pubs – like my local – will opt for the best of both worlds approach, offering a small selection of crisps and peanuts as well as some fancier options that should really belong on the starter menu.
Healthier choices?
Chances are that if you’re trying to keep healthy, the pub isn’t going to be one of your most frequented spots.
But even if you do pop in, many will be pleased to see pubs catering for those who don’t want to consume their entire recommended daily salt intake in three mouthfuls.
Hospitality management platform ServedUp recently analysed 1.5 million pub orders and found that sales of hand-cooked and healthier baked crisps are on the rise, as are olives and cashew nuts.
So, what’s the nation’s favourite?
We might have more options than ever in 2025, but there’s no denying traditional choices are still leading the way for punters.
A Sky News survey on LinkedIn found that crisps of any flavour are the best pub snack (44%), followed by a closely fought race between peanuts (27%) and pork scratchings (26%).
Pub snack wholesaler JL Brooks backed up the findings, telling us that while variety is everywhere, Britons still love the classic options.
“We’ve seen a steady increase in demand for more premium, gourmet-style snacks, such as hand-cooked crisps, mixed nuts, and flavoured popcorn,” a spokesperson said.
“However, traditional options like ready salted crisps and salted peanuts still hold their ground and are consistently requested.”
