Could Bottled Water Menus Be the Next Pub Trend?

As pubs look for new ways to stand out, a surprising idea is beginning to bubble up — bottled water menus. Once seen only in high-end restaurants, some operators are asking whether offering a curated list of still and sparkling waters could have a place in the modern British pub.

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Why the Idea is Gaining Attention

The discussion has been sparked by a growing demand for premium non-alcoholic options. With soft drinks, mocktails, and alcohol-free beers already carving out space on pub menus, bottled water could be the next step in giving customers choice.

Advocates argue that:

• Consumers are more health-conscious, often choosing non-alcoholic drinks on weeknights or at lunchtimes.
• Premium waters — from mineral-rich European brands to boutique UK spring waters — can be paired with food much like wine or beer.
• Adding a water menu could encourage higher spend per head, particularly in gastropubs or pubs with a strong dining focus.

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A Divisive Question

Not everyone is convinced. Critics point out that:

• Tap water is free and widely available in pubs — why would customers pay extra?
• Stocking multiple bottled water brands adds storage, logistics, and environmental challenges.
• Pubs risk being seen as pretentious if the idea isn’t introduced carefully.

For many operators, the key question is whether customers would actually order from a water menu often enough to justify the effort.

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The Future of Pub Drinks

Whether or not bottled water menus catch on, the conversation highlights a bigger trend: pubs are evolving to meet diverse customer expectations. From craft sodas and kombucha to premium tonics and mocktails, today’s pub-goer expects more than just pints and Pepsi.

Water menus may or may not take off — but they represent the creativity and experimentation pubs are increasingly embracing to stay competitive.

Dyson has announced its most unusual product yet; a wearable air purifier with a pair of noise-cancelling headphones built in.

An initial reveal of the Zone headphones – the first headphones Dyson has released – doesn’t come with many specifics about cost or battery life, nor how much the headset weighs.

Where did this come from?

Dyson said it started having internal conversations in 2016 about developing some kind of “purification on the move” technology, based on its existing air purification technology.

During initial trials in the smoggy city of Beijing the company struck upon the idea of integrating noise-cancelling headphones.

Doing this also meant the company was able to design the headset so the air filters could be placed in the earcups, minimising some of the unusual bulkiness in previous prototypes.

In its final form the Zone uses a visor to channel “a continuous stream of purified air to your nose and mouth, without touching your face” according to Dyson, which will help address stuffiness.

A separate attachment is also going to be offered that could allow people to turn the headphones into a sealed, full-contact mask.

The two-stage purification system is “capable of filtering city fumes and pollutants” and uses a miniaturised version of Dyson’s existing air purification technology.

Each filter would need to be replaced after about a year and are capable of filtering out 99% of particle pollution, according to the company – depending on how much use the headphones get.

It follows Public Health England warning that air pollution is the single biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, “with between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths a year attributed to long-term exposure”.

Some reviewers have said despite the music and the noise-cancelling technology, the whirring of the air purification units is still audible. Dyson says more information will be forthcoming nearer to launch.

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