An easy guide to the national days that hospitality businesses should tap into
There is any number of weird and wonderful days that we all see on social media and on the news - National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, anyone? - but how do you know what’s coming up? And what’s the point of getting involved as a hospitality operator?
Why should you tap into a national day?
- Inspiration
First and foremost it’s inspiration for new content and offerings. In any normal year, people are looking out for different experiences, but in 2021 even more so due to the prolonged lockdown. And the recent ‘sell-out’ cook-at-home Valentine’s Day kits are proof. Have a look through the national days coming up and see what grabs your attention. Could you create a new package to purchase, run a giveaway or host a cookalong? Could you simply highlight your favourite dish that relates to that day, or unveil a secret recipe?
- Engagement
New, different and inspiring content is going to help drive engagement and help reach a wider audience.
- Giving customers another reason to spend with you
Friday takeaways might already be a ‘thing’ in one household, but, for example, pancake day is a Tuesday and if you have a unique package on offer to help them celebrate it then you’re giving your customers a reason to spend with you on a different day.
- Showing brand personality
National days are a brilliant way to get your brand’s personality across. Can you be cheeky with your offering? Do you want to be fun or casual? Or is it a serious, high-end offer? Or is it a cause you’re supporting close to your employee’s or customer’s hearts that deserves serious attention? Are you wanting to show that you’re a brand with purpose?
- Brand awareness
Tagging a national day means people outside your usual audience will stumble upon your content more easily. They might be a burger aficionado but unaware of your establishment, that you offer burgers on your menu, or that you have a new package for National Burger Day. Your social post that uses #NationalBurgerDay might grab their attention.
- Potential for PR
Journalists regularly write round-ups of what is happening on national days. Google your favourite national day and hundreds of articles by both national and regional journalists are going to crop up. If you have a PR team, they’ll likely already be maximising these opportunities, but even if you don’t, you’re increasing the likelihood of PR exposure. If a journalist happens to be searching for things to include in your area then there’s a chance they’ll spot your offering. If it drives online coverage and includes links then it will support SEO too.
Top tips for maximising national day activity
- Plan ahead so you don’t miss the boat
Add the most relevant dates to your diary and always try to look ahead by at least a month. Perhaps schedule a regular monthly internal meeting to have a quick chat about what’s coming up in the next few months.
- Utilise all your channels
Has your website been updated in plenty of time? Have you scheduled a newsletter and some social media posts?
- Optimise your social media posts
Ensure you’re using the right hashtags and have appropriate lifestyle imagery, graphics, gifs or videos. Consider placing a bit of social media budget behind it. Budgets might be tight (or non-existent) at the moment, but if it’s an extremely popular national day, putting a little bit of social media ad spend behind your national day post can help you get cut through the noise.
- Limited offers
If it’s a package, consider promoting how many of these are available and for how long - if there are only 100 kits available it or it’s a ‘one day only’ offer, it might just prompt someone to make the purchase then and there.
Your calendar of dates
Here are some of our favourite hospitality-related national days. The majority of these dates stay the same date each year, but some will change, like Mother’s Day. Let us know what your favourite national day is in the comments below.
2021
February
3rd - Yorkshire Pudding Day
9th - National Pizza Day
9th - National Bagel Day
12th - Chinese New Year
13th - Galentine's Day
14th - Valentine's Day
16th - Pancake Day
17th - Random Acts of Kindness Day
18th - National Drink Wine Day
22nd - National Margarita Day
22nd-7th - Fairtrade Fortnight
25th - National Chilli Day
27th - National Strawberry Day
March
1st-7th - British Pie Week
4th - World Book Day
8th - International Women's Day
8th-14th - National Butchers Week
14th - Mother's Day
17th - St Patrick's Day
20th - International Day of Happiness
25th - International Waffle Day
April
2nd-5th - Easter weekend
1st - April Fools Day
11th - Cheese Fondue Day
12th - Ramadan begins
21st - National Tea Day
23rd - St. George’s Day
23rd-30th - British Beef Week
May
3rd - Early May Bank Holiday
8th - World Fairtrade Day
10th-16th - National Vegetarian Week
11th - Eat What You Want Day
12th - Ramadan ends
13th - International Hummus Day
14th - National Biscuit Day
15th - World Whisky Day
17th - World Baking Day
23rd-30th - English Wine Week
24th-6th - British Tomato Fortnight
25th - National Wine Day
28th - International Burger Day
31st - Spring Bank Holiday
TBC - British Sandwich Week
June
All month - LGBT Pride
1st - World Milk Day
4th - National Doughnut Day
4th - National Fish and Chips Day
5th - World Environment Day
5th-11th June - Great British Pea Week
12th - International Falafel Day
12th - World Gin Day
14th–27th - National BBQ Week
14th-18th - Healthy Eating Week
15th - National Beer Day
18th - International Sushi Day
19th - National Martini Day
19th-27th - National Picnic Week
20th - Father's Day
25th - National Cream Tea Day
July
All month - Ice Cream Month
17th - World Emoji Day
7th - World Chocolate Day
16th - National Cherry Day
17th - Hot Dog Day
24th - National Tequila Day
August
1st - Yorkshire Day
6th - International Beer Day
9th-15th - Afternoon Tea Week
13th - National Prosecco Day
16th - National Rum Day
19th - International Photo Day
26th - National Burger Day
September
All month - Sourdough September
All month - Organic September
1st-7th - Love Lamb Week
1st - National Tofu Day
5th - International Bacon Day
7th - World Salami Day
13th - International Chocolate Day
18th-3rd - British Food Fortnight
24th - World’s Biggest Coffee Morning (in aid of Macmillan)
13th-19th - Negroni Week
26th - National Dumpling Day
5th-20th - Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight
26th - National Rice Week
30th - Summer Bank Holiday
October
1st - World Vegetarian Day
1st - International Coffee Day
4th - National Taco Day
7th-12th - National Curry Week
8th - World Egg Day
10th - World Porridge Day
14th-19th - Chocolate Week
14th-19th - National Baking Week
16th - World Food Day
21st - National Apple Day
25th - World Pasta Day
31st - Halloween
TBC - UK Coffee Week (charitable initiative)
TBC - UK Sausage Week
November
All month - World Vegan Month
1st - World Vegan Day
3rd - World Sandwich Day
4th - Roast Dinner Day
5th - Bonfire Night
TBC - Great British Game Week
December
2nd - English Breakfast Day
5th - National Pigs in Blankets Day
6th - National Gazpacho Day
20th - National Sangria Day
24th - Christmas Eve
25th - Christmas Day
26th - Boxing Day
31st - New Year’s Eve
2022
January
First half of month - January sales
All month - Veganuary
All month - Dry January
1st - New Year’s Day
17th - Blue Monday
25th - Burns Night
30th - National Croissant Day
