Hi Everyone - this is my first post. (I live in Australia)

I run a small pub (hotel) in a small town. A new large tavern opened up about 20mins from my pub.

It is a lot more modern (and would have cost about 10 times what mine is worth). As you can guess, trading has not been so good since it opened. There is no way on could start any price war or anything like that - I would get eaten alive.

I still get the loyal locals and a few out of towners, but I really need some new marketing ideas to build my trade back up.

I have little capital to renovate or anything, but like I said, my little pub is not in the same league as that new tavern.

any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Not sure how it is there since you said you couldn't compete in a price war. But bigger and newer bars usually mean more expensive to me.

I think you really need to analyze & define your target market and also the market the new bar targets. Try to find your niche market and also keep your "dive bar" appeal.

nevermind...

What about a different demographic. And doing the opposite.

I would stand outside the new pub and see who is turning away and ask them why and point them to your pub with a coupon so they would return again. (Your market research)

If the new pub is roudy and noisy and playing new age music
make yours play oldies.

I would concentrate on a different ambience or 'exclusive' nature of your club. You can advertise better food. Difficult to give more ideas without more information.

How do the out of towners end up in you club ? Can you concentrate on them and advertise for them further out.

I do have a question, assuming this bigger richer club did it's market research correctly. Do you think they

A. Expect the number of drinkers to increase in your locality so they can cater to more pub goers.
B. Basically want to take your customers, much like walmart builds their shops next to kmart and takes their customers without doing market research.

If you think it is (A.) they may not be able to survive in a market with limited market (pub goers) and close shop once they cannot pay their loans, you just have to stick it out.

If it's (B.) then you have a bigger problem and you may want to provide more information here so we can brain storm.

Good luck, wish you a favourable outcome ...

I believe B is the answer, unfortunately.

My pub is located about 25mins from the CBD in a small town. I basically got all the people who worked in town, but didn't live there. I was also the closest to our air force base which has recently been getting large injections from the government and is forever growing.

This new place has opened up in the middle of me and the town - probably the worst spot for me as it takes all the air force guys and most of the poeple working in town - just due to its location. I am mainly left with the poeple living a lot further out, which is not a lot compared to before.

i think u can have a promotion or something like that
where you can offer happy hour, drinks at discount and so on
at first it will attract the flow of customer
and secondly if they think your service and atmosphere is ok
they will keep on coming in
first to attract and second to retain them