SEO for Bars and Pubs: Pulling Pints and Web Traffic in Merseyside

Every Friday evening, thousands of people across Merseyside pick up their phones and search for somewhere to drink. They type “best bars Liverpool,” “dog friendly pubs Wirral,” or “sports bars near me.” The question is simple: does your venue appear in those results?

If it doesn’t, you’re handing customers directly to your competitors.

Search engine optimisation for bars and pubs has become one of the most effective marketing strategies for the hospitality sector. Unlike expensive advertising campaigns or fleeting social media posts, SEO delivers consistent, long-term visibility exactly when customers are ready to visit.

The Numbers Behind Bar and Pub Searches

The search volume for bars and pubs across Merseyside is substantial. Here’s what people are actively searching for every single month:

Keyword	Monthly Searches
Pubs in Liverpool	14,800
Best bars Liverpool	9,900
Cocktail bars Liverpool	6,600
Sports bars Liverpool	2,400
Dog friendly pubs Liverpool	1,600
Real ale pubs Liverpool	880

That’s over 35,000 monthly searches for just these six terms alone. Expand that across Wirral, Chester, Warrington, Southport, St Helens, Wigan, and the surrounding areas, and you’re looking at a massive pool of potential customers actively seeking somewhere to spend their money.

Research shows that 28% of local searches result in a purchase or visit. Do the maths on 35,000 searches, and you’ll understand why your competitors are investing in Local SEO Liverpool services.

Why Position Matters

Google’s first page isn’t a level playing field. The position your bar or pub holds determines exactly how many of those searchers actually click through to your website or Google Business Profile.

Click distribution by search position:

Position 1: 39.6% of all clicks
Position 2: 18.4% of all clicks
Position 3: 10.1% of all clicks
Position 4: 7.6% of all clicks
Position 5: 4.6% of all clicks

If 9,900 people search for “best bars Liverpool” each month and your venue ranks first, you’re capturing approximately 3,920 clicks. Drop to position five, and that number plummets to just 455 clicks.

The difference between first and fifth position represents thousands of potential customers you’re simply not reaching.

Keywords Your Bar or Pub Could Target

Every venue has unique selling points that translate into searchable keywords. Here’s an example keyword strategy for a traditional pub in Merseyside:

Primary: Pubs in [your area] (high volume, competitive)
Secondary: Dog friendly pubs [your area]
Secondary: Sunday roast [your area]
Long-tail: Pubs with beer garden [your area]
Long-tail: Live sports pubs near me
Long-tail: Private function room [your area]

For a cocktail bar, the strategy shifts:

Primary: Cocktail bars [your area]
Secondary: Best bars [your area]
Long-tail: Cocktail bars with DJ [your area]
Long-tail: Birthday venues [your area]
Long-tail: Happy hour cocktails [your area]

The key is identifying what makes your venue different and ensuring Google understands that difference.

What Makes Pub and Bar SEO Different

We recently covered SEO for Nightclubs, and while there’s overlap, bars and pubs face distinct challenges and opportunities.

Key differences include:

Daytime trade: Unlike nightclubs, pubs and bars attract customers throughout the day. Keywords around lunch menus, afternoon drinks, and remote working spaces become relevant
Local community focus: Traditional pubs often serve specific neighbourhoods. Hyperlocal targeting across Liverpool, Bootle, Crosby, Maghull, Widnes, and Ormskirk requires tailored approaches
Food integration: Gastropubs and traditional pubs with kitchens need menu optimisation and food-specific keywords
Event variety: Quiz nights, live music, sports screenings, and private hire all require individual keyword targeting
Family and pet-friendly positioning: Many pubs cater to families and dog owners: a market segment nightclubs don’t serve

Google Business Profile: Your Most Important Asset

For bars and pubs, the Google Business Profile often generates more direct custom than the website itself. When someone searches “pubs near me,” Google displays the Map Pack: three local businesses prominently featured with reviews, photos, and directions.

Optimisation priorities:

Accurate name, address, and phone number matching your website exactly
Complete business categories (Primary: Pub, Secondary: Restaurant, Bar, Live Music Venue)
High-quality photos of your venue, food, drinks, and events
Regular posts about upcoming events, new menus, and special offers
Active review management with responses to both positive and negative feedback
Updated opening hours, including bank holidays and special occasions

A well-optimised Google Business Profile can place your venue in front of thousands of local searchers without spending a penny on advertising.

Website Elements That Drive Bookings

Your website needs to do more than look attractive. It needs to convert visitors into customers.

Essential elements for bar and pub websites:

Prominent “Book a Table” or “Reserve” buttons visible on every page
Full food and drink menus with descriptive text (searchable by Google)
Clear opening hours on homepage, contact page, and footer
Events calendar with structured data for Google to display
Location page with embedded map and transport links
Gallery showcasing atmosphere, food, and events
Mobile-responsive design (the majority of pub searches happen on phones)

Every page should include location-specific terms naturally integrated into the content. A Chester cocktail bar should mention Chester throughout its website: not just once on the contact page.

Content That Attracts Customers

Regular content updates signal to Google that your website is active and relevant. For bars and pubs, content opportunities include:

Event announcements: Live music, quiz nights, sports screenings
Seasonal menus: Christmas bookings, summer beer garden promotions
Local guides: Best places to watch the match in Warrington, pub crawl routes in Liverpool city centre
Behind-the-scenes: New craft beers, cocktail recipes, team introductions
Community involvement: Charity events, local sponsorships, neighbourhood news

This content serves dual purposes: attracting organic search traffic and giving visitors reasons to return to your website.

Targeting Multiple Locations Across Merseyside

If your venue serves customers from across the region, your SEO strategy needs geographic breadth. A pub in Liverpool city centre might attract visitors from:

Liverpool City Centre (local trade and visitors)
Wirral (cross-river customers)
Warrington (commuters and day-trippers)
Southport (weekend visitors)
St Helens and Wigan (match-day crowds)
Chester (destination drinkers)
Crosby, Maghull, and Ormskirk (suburban residents seeking city venues)

Effective local SEO ensures visibility across all these areas without diluting your core positioning.

The Sales Bit

Running a successful bar or pub requires juggling countless responsibilities. Between stock management, staffing, licensing, and actually serving customers, few publicans have time to master search engine optimisation.

That’s precisely why Mersey SEO exists.

We specialise in helping hospitality businesses across Merseyside dominate local search results. Our approach is straightforward: we identify what your potential customers are searching for, optimise your online presence to appear for those searches, and track the results.

What we deliver:

Complete Google Business Profile optimisation
Website SEO audit and implementation
Local keyword research tailored to your venue
Monthly reporting showing ranking improvements and traffic growth
Ongoing support and strategy adjustments

Whether you run a traditional ale house in Bootle, a cocktail bar in Liverpool ONE, or a gastropub in Chester, we understand the hospitality market and what drives customers through your doors.

Ready to stop losing customers to competitors who rank above you? Contact us online to discuss how we can increase your venue’s visibility.