What is competitive socialising and how can your venue benefit from it?

Low-cost or no-cost ideas: You can start low-key by hosting a weekly or monthly quiz night or by setting up a games corner with board games or cards, especially if you just want to test the waters. Board games and darts are listed among the most popular games according to a 2024 survey by KAM.   

Mid-level investment ideas: If you’re planning on making your venue a go-to spot for competitive socialising, there are few options to consider. Start by researching what similar venues in your area are offering to see what’s already available and what draws attention. Based on the outcome, identify any gaps and decide if you want to install specific equipment or dedicate part of your venue or an unused room for games. In the aforementioned KAM survey, ten-pin bowling (39%), crazy/adventure golf (30%) and pool (30%) were cited as some of the most popular games among customers. 

Digital options: If your venue doesn’t currently have any spare space for physical games, you can still tap into the trend through digital activities. Guest Wi-Fi solutions like Wireless Social can help you introduce tech-based gaming options, interactive quizzes or competitions that sync with your guest Wi-Fi. If your venue is popular for sports, Wireless Social’s Activate feature is something you’d love, as it allows guests to predict game scores in real time, adding an extra layer of fun and encouraging friendly competition. On top of that, every interaction through Wireless Social helps you build rich customer profiles, making it a powerful tool for re-engagement and personalised marketing.  

Longer dwell time: Interactive games give guests a reason to stick around, turning a quick pint into a full evening - and more time spent usually leads to more orders. 

Group bookings: Birthdays, team socials and even corporate events are drawn to venues that offer something extra, creating more frequent opportunities for private hire and larger tabs. 41% of customers said special celebrations are the reason they’ve decided to visit an activity-led venue.  

Repeat visits: Whether it's chasing a high score or trying a new game night, competitive elements give customers a reason to return, especially in groups. 

Stronger differentiation: With 46% of operators struggling to attract new customers in the last 12 months, venues offering something that stands out have never been more important. Interactive experiences, whether low-key or immersive, can help reshape how your venue is seen, build word-of-mouth and put your pub or bar on the map for groups looking for something more than just a drink. 

Managing group bookings: From birthday parties to corporate team socials, Collins allows you to easily manage large bookings, guest preferences and seating plans, all in one platform. 

Promoting your venue: Reach up to 3.9 million monthly visitors and 61 million Google impressions - an audience you may not reach otherwise, by promoting your venue and its fun activities on DesignMyNight, the UK's biggest hospitality discovery platform.   

Offering event and ticketing tools: If you’re using our free ticketing software, Access Tonic, all tickets sold via this platform will be sent directly to Access Collins – so you’ll have all your bookings and pre-orders in one place.  

Integrating CRM: Collins captures guest booking behaviour and connects with your hospitality CRM to build detailed customer profiles, giving you additional customer data which you can use to send tailored follow-ups, special offers or priority invites for future events. 

Calendar and resource planning: Oversee your events schedule alongside day-to-day bookings and staff rotas and know when each area is booked, what equipment is needed, and who’s working, so nothing gets missed.