Brandwave

Hungry Horse vs Wetherspoons:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Wetherspoons had more branded searches than Hungry Horse among pub chains in the United Kingdom. Wetherspoons had about 673,000 branded searches, while Hungry Horse had 40,500. Wetherspoons made up 80.1% of all pub chain searches we track, and Hungry Horse accounted for 4.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about pub chains, Wetherspoons appeared in two of the four answers and Hungry Horse in one. Wetherspoons was mentioned before Hungry Horse in every answer.

Among pub chains in the United Kingdom in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Wetherspoons, about 17 searches for every 1 for Hungry Horse

Wetherspoons 673K searchesHungry Horse 40.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Wetherspoons, mentioned in 2 of 4 answers, Hungry Horse in 1

Wetherspoons in 2 of 4Hungry Horse in 1 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

Wetherspoons, named ahead of Hungry Horse in every answer

Wetherspoons first in 2Hungry Horse never first

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Top pub chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, Wetherspoons was mentioned in two out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Hungry Horse was mentioned in one out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in the Google AI Overview. Wetherspoons was listed before Hungry Horse in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Wetherspoons1st
  2. Greene King2nd
  3. Young's3rd
  4. Hungry Horse4th
  5. Fuller's5th
  6. Vintage Inns–
  7. Marston's–
  8. Sizzling Pubs–
  9. Chef & Brewer–
  10. Ember Inns–
  11. +1 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Wetherspoons2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Greene King2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Hungry Horse1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Fuller's1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Young's1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Vintage Inns0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Marston's0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Sizzling Pubs0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Chef & Brewer0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Ember Inns0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

+1 more

See every answer about pub chains

4 answers

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's the best pub chain in the UK?”

    1. 1Wetherspoons
    2. 2Young's
    3. 3Greene King
    4. 4Fuller's

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “Which pub chain is best for a cheap meal and a pint?”

    1. 1Wetherspoons
    2. 2Hungry Horse
    3. 3Greene King

  • Asked ChatGPT

    “What's a good pub near me for Sunday lunch?”

    1. Searched Google, AI Overview

      “pubs near me”

      1. Searched Google, AI Overview

        “best pubs near me”

        Google showed no AI Overview for this search.

      Not named in any answer:

      Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 23, 2026.

      Is Hungry Horse or Wetherspoons more popular in search?

      This chart shows how often people search Google for Hungry Horse and Wetherspoons by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 pub chains we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.

      Hungry Horse and Wetherspoons among pub chains in the United Kingdom, by month

      Share of searches by month for Wetherspoons, Hungry Horse. The figures are in the table below the chart.

      View monthly share of searches table
      MonthWetherspoonsGreene KingHungry HorseVintage InnsMarston'sSizzling PubsChef & BrewerEmber InnsFuller'sYoung'sNicholson’s
      Oct 202578.8%7.1%5.8%1.7%1.2%1.7%1.7%1.2%0.28%0.12%0.34%
      Nov 202579.8%7.2%4.8%1.8%1.2%1.8%1.4%1.4%0.28%0.13%0.28%
      Dec 202581.4%7.3%4%1.8%0.8%1.5%1.5%1.2%0.29%0.1%0.16%
      Jan 202678.3%7%4.7%2.6%1.2%2.1%1.7%1.7%0.34%0.18%0.15%
      Feb 202679.2%7.1%4.8%1.7%1.2%2.6%1.7%1.2%0.23%0.18%0.13%
      Mar 202678.5%8.6%4.7%1.7%1.2%2.1%1.4%1.2%0.23%0.23%0.18%
      Apr 202677.4%7%5.7%2.1%1.4%2.6%1.7%1.4%0.28%0.33%0.22%
      May 202677.4%7%5.7%2.1%1.4%2.6%1.7%1.4%0.28%0.28%0.33%
      Jun 202680.5%5.9%4.8%1.8%1.4%1.8%1.4%1.4%0.29%0.29%0.29%
      Jul 202677.9%7%5.7%1.7%1.4%2.6%1.4%1.4%0.28%0.34%0.28%
      Aug 202679.7%5.9%5.9%1.8%1.8%1.8%1.4%1.2%0.23%0.23%0.23%
      Sep 202680.1%5.9%4.8%2.2%1.8%1.8%1.4%1.2%0.35%0.35%0.23%

      How has the Hungry Horse and Wetherspoons comparison changed over the last 12 months?

      3 findings

      How did search popularity change for United Kingdom pub chains in September 2026?

      2 changes

      1. In September 2026, Hungry Horse lost share of searches among pub chains in the United Kingdom, from 5.9% to 4.8%.

      2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Wetherspoons in the United Kingdom fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 823K to 673K in September 2026.

      How are branded searches counted?

      2 search terms

      Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Hungry Horse’s and Wetherspoons’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

      Hungry Horse

      1 branded search term

      • hungry horse

      Wetherspoons

      1 branded search term

      • wetherspoons

      How the Brand Demand Index is measured

      Other head-to-heads among pub chains

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