The Great British Pub

What makes a great British pub? It’s not just the beer (though that certainly helps). It’s not just the roaring fires, the Sunday roasts, or the dartboards in the corner. It’s something deeper. Something you feel the moment you step through the door. Punch Pubs knows this better than anyone – and they asked us to help bottle that magic.

With over 1,300 pubs across the UK, Punch Pubs is at the heart of Britain’s pub culture. But they’re not just managing buildings – they’re curating community spaces. Spaces where laughter echoes off the walls, where families gather, where old friends reconnect and new ones are made. And when they approached us, their goal was simple but powerful: to create a film that captured the true essence of what makes a great British pub… great.

So, we hit the road.

Our crew travelled the length and breadth of the UK, from sleepy village locals to buzzing urban hangouts, uncovering the stories, the characters, and the moments that define Punch’s pub experience. We met landlords who’d been pulling pints for generations, chefs who knew every regular’s favourite dish, and customers who’d turned their local into a second home.

Every stop brought something unique: a quiz night in Yorkshire, a seaside singalong in Devon, a birthday bash in Birmingham. But no matter where we went, we kept finding the same things—warmth, welcome, and a deep sense of belonging.

And we captured it all on film.

Shot in a warm, fun mixed media style with natural lighting and handheld intimacy, the visuals were designed to feel like a friendly memory – familiar, nostalgic, and comforting. We wanted viewers to feel like they were walking into each pub themselves: hearing the clink of glasses, smelling the roast potatoes, feeling the worn wood of the bar under their fingers. And importantly. Remember what was always so great about heading down to the pub.

A gentle and uplifting score along with an expertly written voiceover which perfectly captured the down to earth, authentic and nostalgic feel of the Great British Pub tied it all together.

The final film became a celebration of the pub as a cornerstone of British life. Not just as a place to grab a drink, but as a space where stories unfold, milestones are marked, and communities thrive. It was a love letter to the local, to its people, its quirks, its charm, and its undeniable role in shaping social life across the UK.

Punch Pubs launched the brand film across internal and external channels, using it to inspire their teams, energise partners, and remind the wider public what makes their pubs so special. It featured at company events, on their website, and across social media, earning plenty of toasts (and a few emotional responses) along the way.

For us, this wasn’t just another shoot. It was an opportunity to explore the beating heart of a national institution and tell its story in a way that felt honest, heartfelt, and real.

Because the truth is, a great British pub isn’t defined by its décor or its drinks list. It’s defined by the people in it. The landlord who knows your name. The mates you didn’t plan to meet. The regulars who become family. Punch Pubs gets that—and now, thanks to this film, so does everyone else.

So… what makes a great British pub? We found a whole bunch of answers making this film, and every one of them came with a warm welcome and a perfectly poured pint