Pub Website Development Case Study
A Case Study in Pub Website Development in Westport
A Case Study in Pub Website Development in Westport
Brief Overview of the The Clock Tavern Pub
See how we helped The Clock Tavern Westport increase bookings with expert pub website development. Mobile-friendly design, enquiry forms, and Instagram feed.
Nestled in the heart of Westport, The Clock Tavern is a beloved family-run Irish pub that’s been serving locals and tourists since 1976. Known for its traditional Irish music, alt-pop gigs, and buzzing atmosphere, it’s become a cultural cornerstone in the area. More than just a place for a pint, The Clock Tavern offers two vibrant event spaces: a lively downstairs venue perfect for birthdays, hen parties, and stag dos, and a more intimate upstairs space used for open mic nights, poetry readings, and acoustic sessions. With no fee for venue hire, their revenue primarily comes from bar sales during events.
As the world increasingly moves online, The Clock Tavern recognised the need for a fresh, mobile-first website to better promote their private event offerings and connect with patrons through social media.
Client Requirements & Goals
The owners of The Clock Tavern approached us with a clear goal: to get more private event bookings through a modern, easy-to-navigate website. They also wanted a simple way to manage enquiries without the back-and-forth typically handled over the phone or social media DMs.
Key objectives for Pub Website Development included:
- A dedicated section for private event hire with venue descriptions.
- An easy-to-use enquiry form.
- Integration with their active Instagram account.
- A mobile-friendly layout to reflect that over 85% of their traffic comes from mobile devices.
- Increased visibility on Google through smart SEO practices and proper Google Business integration.
This pub website design needed to do more than look good – it had to perform.
Challenges Faced in Pub Website Development
One of the first challenges was clarifying how to differentiate the two venue spaces online. Many pub websites blur this line, leading to confusion and missed bookings. We had to present both spaces clearly while making it easy for users to enquire.
Another challenge was ensuring the site remained actively updated without placing extra workload on the owners. Since they were already posting regularly on Instagram, we needed to find a way to bring that dynamic content to the website automatically.
Lastly, while their old site was technically functional, it wasn’t mobile-first, nor was it optimised for search engines or Google Maps. For a business that thrives on foot traffic and tourism, this had to change.
Our Web Design Solution
We began with a discovery session to understand the business, its customers, and how people interact with the pub. Based on this, we designed a fully custom website using WordPress, prioritising a seamless experience across desktop and mobile.
Here’s what we implemented:
- Mobile-first design: With more than 85% of traffic coming from mobile devices, the entire layout was built to perform beautifully on smaller screens. We used large, tappable call-to-action buttons, quick-access phone numbers, and optimised page loading.
- Event venue showcase: Each space was given its own section with images, features, and suggested use cases (e.g., "Perfect for hen and stag parties"), improving user understanding.
- Easy venue enquiry form: Built using WPForms, this form is simple for visitors to complete and for staff to manage. It’s integrated into the Events page and above-the-fold for mobile.
- Instagram Feed Pro Elite by Smash Balloon: This tool allows real-time social content to be embedded directly into the homepage. It gives the website a living, breathing feel without requiring manual updates.
- SEO and Google Business Integration: We optimised metadata, headings, and internal links using long-tail keywords like pub website design Ireland, website development for pubs, and pub website with event booking. We also ensured their Google Business profile linked directly to the new site with embedded maps for easier directions.
- Social Media Mapping: We cross-linked their Instagram and Facebook profiles, encouraging website visitors to follow their socials and vice versa. This created a continuous engagement loop.
Key Outcomes
Within the first few weeks of launching, The Clock Tavern saw a noticeable uptick in private booking enquiries. The form submissions through the website increased, and the owners reported fewer repetitive phone calls since much of the key information was now clearly available online.
Visitors often mention the Instagram feed as one of their favourite features—it assures them the pub is active, popular, and worth checking out. The new website also loads significantly faster, especially on mobile, which helps reduce bounce rates and keep visitors engaged.
From an SEO standpoint, the website began to rank locally for terms like “pub events Westport” and “private party pub venue Ireland”—long-tail keywords that connect with highly specific search intent.
Visual Gallery – Mobile & Desktop
We provided a clean, visual layout that adjusts seamlessly across devices. The gallery section includes real-world examples:
