To ask what does your local pub do to impress you?

✅ A roaring fire
✅ No music
✅ Knows my name

God, yes to this. Some of the suggestions here (play areas and discos for kids!) would ensure I never set foot in the place.
As some previous posters point out, decide on your demographic and target them.
I wouldn’t be put off by kids quietly having a meal before a certain time, but kids bombing it round with glowsticks absolutely would ruin it for me.

I think that pubs that ban families with children and under 18s are very short sighted. People have long memories and I wouldn't go anywhere near a "local" pub that allowed dogs and banned children or teenagers with their parents. The young teenagers will reach 18 soon enough and will have been put off becoming potential customers.
I don't mind drinking den pubs that don't allow children as it's a different type of venue but it's very short sighted of ordinary establishments to do this.
Dogs in country pubs are acceptable but I hate them in city pubs. Can't be much fun for them lying around for hours while their owners get inebriated and the pub staff have to clean up after them.

Absolutely nothing and we’ve stopped going there. They’ve increased the prices and decreased the portion sizes so much that it’s ridiculous. We’ve now found another pub and go there even though it’s about 20 mins away.

Fun inclusive community events - eg Christmas carols. Groups like book club, stitch and sip, craft nights etc.

I went into a village pub recently that did a a 3 course Monday Supper Club. The menu was chalked up on a Tuesday and you had to book by the weekend.
It was simple, great food for £12. The menu I saw was something like tomato soup, fish and chips; brownie.

Monthly cheese club

Our fabulous local pub has banned under 18's after receiving loads of complaints about behaviour and useless parents.

It's still dog friendly and is just perfect now with large sofas (that aren't being climbed over by kids), a roaring fire with the ancient pub Labrador lying in the hearth. Good food. Good wine. Good beer and no music.

Our local pub does an absolutely amazing breakfast at the weekend before they open to the drinkers, its a real treat to have a cooked breakfast and a decent coffee that I've not had to make myself.

Yes. Vegan options based around beans/pulses rather than fake meats and vegetarian options with real cheese.

Sensibly priced drinks, nothing too expensive. Our local Wetherspoons is very successful because the drink prices are so cheap. Nice place as well.
Good selection of reasonably priced soft drinks
No dogs inside.
Some gluten free food
Friendly, the sort of place that women can go in and sit on their own without being hassled.
Good pub quiz

Snacky mix n matchy foods for when you just want a few pints and something that isn’t a full meal.

I haven't read the whole post but for me:

• don't try and make vegetarians eat vegan. I love eggs and cheese and it makes us feel forgotten

Decent house wines for less than a fiver a glass

I fear this may be a contradiction in terms, unless you mean a 125ml

Host the village bonfire and fireworks party. And do events during the village 'gala' weekend.

They work closely with the village events team to make sure they are involved in all these big events, which then gives them the opportunity to sell drinks and food (outside takeaway for the event) to those attending.

Food van outside to eat in if drinking (this can cover vegan/gluten free/ etc)
live music
mum and baby coffee mornings
bottomless brunch
daytime disco
reliable opening hours
good drinks range
friendly staff!
clean toilets
OAP events

pubs need to be a community centre so think along those lines. If you don’t want to run the events ask outside providers.

good luck!

A really good Sunday roast
A good pub quiz
Bingo night sounds fun!
I'm a sucker for twinkly lights and an open fire

I'll travel miles for GF fish and chips in a pub... but if the loos are grubby I won't come back a second time

Go back to the 90s have have a good old disco !!
A pub near me does this and it’s packed !
They also put on a free bus back into town where it lively still an after 11pm !!

Yes agreed! Vegan cheese is not remotely a substitution for proper cheese.

Good Sunday roast
Santa for the kids day
Mince pie and mulled wine day
Bingo
Quiz night

Play area? We used to take ours to the ones that had those -then they became for toddlers only and gave the older ones screens instead (eye roll but not on my phone and don't know how to do that on my laptop!)
Dog free? Unless you get a lot of walkers that have dogs, obviously.
Competitions/free prize draws - think someone already suggested that. Do they still do comps on beer mats? I'd come just for that.
Good luck!

This ... do a Xmas themed day for the kids with Santa.

I was actually about to say please don't veganise the veggie options. Often now there is no true veggie option, just vegan, and actually vegan food is SO much more restrictive lots of people don't choose it, straightaway no cheese, milk, cream, eggs.
I personally hate that so many menus now are overwhelmed with vegan options which are often very low calorie and kids and teens don't find them appetising so won't eat them, so the end result is quite a restricted menu for most people.
I know vegan options are important but some places now they are 2/3rds of the menu and honestly they don't fill me up and i feel they are also poor value - same cost as other options but bulked out with some very cheap ingredients.

Pub quiz? We love that