Ingenious Cross-Promotional Ideas for Your Bar and Nearby Restaurants

Viewing the restaurant next door as the competition is an easy habit to fall into. You are, after all, vying for the same patrons. But what if you adopted a different perspective? What if you saw your neighbours not as rivals, but as collaborators in a shared opportunity?

By working together, local bars and restaurants can make a whole far greater than the sum of the parts, transforming a single street into a vibrant destination that attracts a larger crowd for everyone involved. It’s about expanding the market, not just fighting for your slice of it. Here are some actionable cross-promotional ideas for your bar to get the ball rolling.

1. The Progressive Dinner or 'Food Crawl'

Why not team up with a few local eateries to curate a unique dining and drinking experience? Customers could purchase a single ticket that entitles them to a different course at each participating venue. For example, they might start with appetisers at a nearby bistro, enjoy a signature cocktail at your bar, proceed to another restaurant for their main course, and finish at a local café for dessert.

This approach offers patrons a memorable evening out and introduces them to several local businesses in a single, seamless experience. It’s an excellent way to showcase the unique character of each establishment.

2. The 'Show Your Receipt' Discount

A timeless classic for a reason: it’s straightforward and effective. Forge a partnership with a neighbouring restaurant where their diners receive a discount on their first drink at your bar simply by showing their receipt—and you can offer the same in reverse. This provides an immediate, tangible incentive for customers to visit your establishment directly after their meal, driving footfall between your businesses with minimal effort.

(Note, if using meed, they could show their member pass on their phones...)

3. Collaborative Events and Themed Nights

Pool your resources and creativity to host events that neither of you could manage alone. You could co-host a local craft beer tasting, with a nearby restaurant providing perfectly matched food pairings. Or, consider a "Taco Tuesday" where you focus on the margaritas while they supply a variety of tacos.

By sharing the marketing and operational load, you can create larger, more appealing events. This not only attracts more customers but also fosters a valuable sense of community among local businesses.

4. Shared Loyalty Rewards

Imagine a scenario where a customer earns a complimentary drink at your bar after collecting five stamps from their lunchtime visits to the restaurant next door. A shared loyalty scheme of this nature encourages repeat business across the board. It rewards customers for their loyalty to the entire neighbourhood, not just a single venue, fostering a strong local following and giving people another compelling reason to frequent the area.

Bringing It All Together with a Lighter Touch

Of course, managing these collaborations might seem a tad complicated. Tracking receipts and coordinating loyalty stamps can be cumbersome. This is precisely where a unified platform can make a world of difference.

Imagine if all the local bars and restaurants were on meed. Customers could join each of your loyalty programmes with a simple scan of a QR code and manage all their rewards—from a free pint at your bar to a discount on dessert next door—from a single digital wallet on their phone.

For the businesses, this simplifies everything. You can effortlessly track the performance of your joint promotions and reward your mutual customers without any administrative hassle. It transforms your street into a connected loyalty ecosystem, making it easier for customers to support local and for you to benefit from the power of collaboration.

Why Cross Promotion for your Bar

Ultimately, fostering a thriving local scene where businesses support one another creates a community that customers want to be a part of. By working together, you’re not just enhancing your bottom line; you’re making your corner of the world a more exciting and attractive destination. And that, surely, is a victory for everyone.