Your May Marketing Calendar
Spring has sprung, and with longer and warmer days ahead, we’re looking forward to key May dates to plan our content.
May has two Bank Holidays, so make sure you account for that when making content. It’s a great chance to change your promotional offers to suit those long weekends and the summer days ahead too!
In this article, we delve into a list of May marketing dates and matching content ideas.
2nd May – May Bank Holiday
The first May bank holiday is a great time to officially open your pub/restaurant garden for the summer.
Make the most of the long weekend with special offers on food and drinks, and encourage visitors to sit outside in the sun. Use a specific hashtag to spread the word online that you have outdoor seating ready for customers.
4th May – Star Wars Day
May the fourth be with you! A favourite amongst Star Wars fans, this day is a great opportunity to capitalise on that. In other words, think Star Wars themed food and drinks, a special Star Wars dish or a fancy dress competition.
10th-14th May – Eurovision
This year’s Eurovision will be held in Turin, Italy. The flamboyant and party-like atmosphere of Eurovision is the perfect chance to have fun! For example, you could invite your customers down to watch the contest in your venue, with special Italian food and decor to entice them in.
You could even hold a competition for best dressed customer!
As the results come in live, this is a good opportunity for your brand to be reactive. Use memes and a sense of humour to react quickly on Twitter and Instagram as the results come in.
13th May – World Cocktail Day
This is a great one for all you restaurant and bar owners! Any special promotions on your cocktails today? How about a cocktail-making masterclass to celebrate the day?
14th May – FA Cup Final
Nothing gets people outside the house like an FA Cup Final! Make the most of your extra guests by offering a match-day special alongside screening the game at your venue. However, there’s no need to go too fancy, they’re here for the game after all. But whilst they’re here, hook them in with a special offer and a fun experience to get them coming back once the football’s over.
16th-22nd May – National Vegetarian Week
This is a great opportunity to highlight to your customers your vegetarian dishes on offer. If you’re looking for TikTok inspiration, show your audience how you can swap out meat from a popular dish with a veggie alternative. Have fun by highlighting how easy veggie dishes are to make!
17th May – World Baking Day
It’s been a while since the Great British Bake Off has been on our screens. How about recreating your own ‘bake off’ in your venue? If you’re not keen on getting customers involved, do an out of hours baking competition with your staff, post the process on social media and get your customers to vote for their favourite bake! As a result, you’ll boost engagement and get your audience excited about your business.
If you’re thinking of something a bit smaller but with a big impact, have a bake sale or donate a portion of your baked goods to charity. Gestures like this are a great way to raise awareness for a charity whilst also showing how your business supports the wider community.
21st May – International Tea Day
Everyone likes tea, right? The opportunities here are endless. From ranking your favourite teas on social media (and getting your audience involved) to a big cream tea event at your venue, there’s a chance to diversify your offerings for the day.
22nd-28th May – British Sandwich Week
We’ve had cocktails, we’ve had tea, now for another British classic: the sarnie. What beats a good old bacon sarnie with a cuppa? Maybe your audience prefers a cheese sandwich to a BLT. Why not find out? Get your audience involved online and invite them to your venue for a week of special sarnies on the menu.
Not a food brand? Record a TikTok asking everyone at the office what their favourite sandwich is – you’ll be sure to get some interesting choices! The stranger the better, and this format lends itself well to engagement on Tiktok. Users can duet your video and add on to the conversation.
24th-28th May – Chelsea Flower Show
If you prefer a more sophisticated style, the Chelsea Flower Show is the place to be. For those that can’t get there in person, welcome them to your venue instead. You could host a flower arranging class in your venue, with a discount on food and drinks after.
Share your flower-arrangements across socials and let your audience choose their favourite!
You could also keep a close eye on the Show itself. Match top flowers and features to your dishes on offer. Share them on social media side by side to show the uncanny resemblance and get your audience in on the fun!
25th May – National Wine Day
Wine lovers everywhere will love this one. If you have a special house wine, don’t be afraid to centre it in your social media campaign. Highlight why it’s your house special, what it tastes like and why you love it.
Not a restaurant/food brand? Host a giveaway on your social media channels to win a bottle of wine. As a result, you’ll get the conversation talking about wine whilst also driving your engagement upwards.
28th May – International Hamburger Day
Ever wondered who invented the hamburger? This is your chance to find out. Host a special day at your restaurant celebrating your hamburger dishes. Give kids a fun, interactive worksheet to keep them occupied during the meal.
28th May – World Hunger Day
End the month with a charitable donation and a day spent raising awareness. This day raises awareness of hunger and food poverty across the world, and the importance of access to education and technology to end that hunger. The Hunger Project has some food-related challenges to raise awareness of food poverty, such as giving up sugar for a week.
We hope you found these May marketing dates useful and can take inspiration from our ideas. Be sure to share your results with us if you do!
Get in touch with Posh Cockney for a tailored marketing plan and content calendar to support your business goals.
