This Lancaster pub is offering free meals for customers - and all you need to do is tell them your best excuse for visiting…

The Greaves Park in Bowerham Road, which is part of the Chef & Brewer collection, announced the initiative after discovering that, since lockdown lifted, 34 per cent of Brits are making increasingly elaborate excuses to justify their trips to the pub, which are up on pre-pandemic levels.

‘I need to get out of the house’ topped the list of most commonly-used excuses for a trip to their local (31 per cent), closely followed by ‘I deserve it’ (27 per cent) and the classic ‘It’s hot’ (21 per cent).

Many also highlighted the pub’s atmosphere (20 per cent), a freshly poured pint (16 per cent) and the fact that food tastes better when someone else cooks it (16 per cent) as their reasons for visiting.

However, many respondents admitted to using some creative license when making up an excuse, with 18 per cent saying they were meeting a distant acquaintance such as their cousin’s next-door neighbour’s uncle, 13 per cent celebrating a non-conventional anniversary such as a half-birthday, and four per cent marking the dog’s birthday.

Most importantly, nearly half of all Brits said they would happily make up an excuse as a reason see friends and family at their local pub.

Following the findings, the pub is giving away complimentary meals to locals with the most original excuses for visiting.

Lee Rushton, general manager at the Greaves Park, said: “Lancashire locals are wanting to come to the pub more than they have in years in order to see friends, have a family meal or a night out with their partner – but it’s been so long since they’ve been able to socialise properly, some feel like they need a reason to justify it to themselves.

“As a team, we’ve loved seeing our guests find any possible reason to make up for lost time with their loved ones - which is why we’ve decided to have a bit of fun with it.

"Between now and Wednesday 4th August, people giving the most entertaining excuses for visiting will be rewarded with money towards a meal and drink so they can live out their excuse again with their loved ones.

“Perhaps you’ve lost your keys, the dog ate your dinner, or you’re simply making up for lost time by making special occasions extra special this year – tell us your entertaining, heartwarming or even most outlandish reasons for visiting, and we’ll reward the best!

"Whatever the reason, a warm welcome will await you and your loved ones.”

To be in with a chance of winning one of 10 £100 gift cards, simply submit your excuses here by Wednesday August 4.

Full terms and conditions can be found here.

The top 20 excuses for visiting the pub were as follows:

1. To get out of the house

2. I deserve it

3. It’s hot

4. To make up for lost time

5. Can’t beat the atmosphere

6. Can’t be bothered to cook

7. To see an acquaintance / distant relative

8. Can’t beat a freshly poured pint

9. It’s a Friday (or any other day of the week)

10. To support my local pub

11. I’m British!

12. To celebrate a non-conventional anniversary

13. Food tastes better when someone else cooks it

14. There’s nothing else to do

15. I need company

16. To catch up with the bar/waiting staff

17. To celebrate a good day at work

18. My house is too much of a mess to have people round

19. There’s nothing in the fridge

20. It’s the dog’s (or any other pet’s) birthday