Many of them were built by the Ireland-based Irish Pub Co., which designs and constructs Irish pubs for investors around the world, using traditional prototypes. The total number of theme pubs in the United Kingdom is hard to measure, but everyone agrees it's increasing. Mintel International, a market research group, estimates that of 61,000 pubs in the United Kingdom only about 450 are themed. But that number, Mintel says, will nearly double by 2001. Brewers call Mintel's figures very conservative.
Theme pubs do draw huge crowds.
Breweries argue that many of the renamed pubs were in dire need of an overhaul. Indeed, while some historic English pubs are wonderful, others are dingy and inhospitable and serve indifferent, if not inedible, food. Theme pubs, geared to young professionals, are clean, well-lit places featuring good food. The idea is to attract more women, and it seems to work. It's easy to pop into and it's not inhibiting.