Your pub website might look great, but if Google cannot find it or understand it, you are invisible to potential customers. Here are the SEO mistakes we see most often on pub websites - and how to fix each one.
that are killing your rankings - most are easy to fix once you know what to look for
1. No Location in Your Page Titles
Your homepage title is one of the most important SEO signals. Yet most pub websites have titles like "The Red Lion - Home" or just "Welcome".
Good vs Bad Titles
- Good: 'The Red Lion | Gastropub in Guildford, Surrey'
- Better: 'The Red Lion Guildford | Award-Winning Pub & Restaurant'
- Bad: 'The Red Lion - Home'
- Bad: 'Welcome to Our Website'
2. Missing or Duplicate Meta Descriptions
The meta description is the text that appears under your title in Google results. Many pub websites either have none, or use the same one on every page.
Write Unique Descriptions For
- Homepage: Summarise your pub, location, and what makes you special
- Menu page: Highlight your food, cuisine style, and dietary options
- Events page: Mention regular events like quiz nights or live music
- Contact: Include your address and booking information
3. Images Without Alt Text
Google cannot "see" your photos. It relies on alt text (image descriptions) to understand what they show. Missing alt text means missed SEO opportunities.
Good vs Bad Alt Text
- Good: 'Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding at The Red Lion Guildford'
- Good: 'Beer garden with views over Guildford town centre'
- Bad: 'IMG_0234.jpg'
- Bad: 'Photo' or blank
4. Menu as a PDF (or No Menu at All)
PDF menus are an SEO disaster. Google can technically read them, but it is much harder than reading normal web pages. Plus, all that delicious keyword-rich content is locked away.
You are missing keywords like "Sunday roast", "beer garden", "vegan options" - content that could rank for food-related searches.
5. Slow Loading Speed
Google uses page speed as a ranking factor. A slow website will rank lower than a fast one, all else being equal.
Common Speed Killers
- Huge uncompressed images (often straight from a camera)
- Cheap hosting that cannot handle traffic
- Too many plugins or widgets
- No caching enabled
is the PageSpeed Insights mobile score you should aim for - ideally above 70
6. Not Mobile-Friendly
Google uses "mobile-first indexing" - it primarily looks at the mobile version of your site when deciding rankings.
Common Mobile Problems
- Text too small to read without zooming
- Buttons too close together to tap accurately
- Content wider than the screen (requires scrolling sideways)
- Pop-ups that cover the whole screen
7. No Google Search Console
Google Search Console is free and essential. Without it, you are flying blind.
What Search Console Tells You
- Which searches your site appears for
- How many clicks you get from Google
- Technical errors preventing indexing
- Mobile usability problems
- Which pages are (and are not) indexed
8. No Internal Linking
Internal links (links between pages on your own site) help Google understand your site structure and spread SEO value around.
Good Internal Linking
- Menu page links to booking page
- Homepage mentions and links to your beer garden
- Events page links to relevant menu items
- Every page has clear navigation to other sections
Quick SEO Audit Checklist
Check Your Site
- Does your homepage title include your location?
- Does each page have a unique meta description?
- Do your images have descriptive alt text?
- Is your menu on a webpage (not just a PDF)?
- What is your PageSpeed Insights mobile score?
- Is your site easy to use on a phone?
- Is Google Search Console set up?
- Do pages link to each other naturally?
Want a Full SEO Audit?
We offer free website audits for UK pubs. We'll check all of the above and more, then give you a clear report with specific recommendations.
Get your free audit