Forget the Bingo... and have a Drink!

I've always loved advertising that makes you think a bit. Something that grabs your attention - a tell ad or a poster that stops you in your tracks and make you smile, frown or chuckle a little.

I was in Newcastle yesterday visiting a school (International House Newcastle) and enjoying their great company, when Trish (the co-owner of the school) showed me their latest poster, now up in Newcastle airport (see above). Now I love stuff that's really different and... dangerous. People may think that it might have been safer just to say : 'Learn a Language at IH Newcastle', but would that make you stop and read on? Maybe not. Well, I wouldn't. I've seen ads like that for years. But 'Forget the Bingo, Learn the Lingo!' Well, I would stop and read that. And if a poster succeeds in getting you to read the whole thing, it's done its job.

Funnily enough, I saw another poster yesterday - one on the Underground, which had me reaching for my iPhone camera. The product was some kind of oat milk. I initially thought the meaning had something to do with this appalling modern use of the word 'like'. Then I thought that it worked both ways - the cool 'like' way and the more usual meaning of like. Anyway, the poster had done its job again and now I know there's an oat milk out there with attitude - attacking the production of cow's milk, which is clearly not meant for humans. I'm not sure I will be out buying oat milk today, but you never know - it could be one of those impulse buys brought about subliminally, after absorbing this poster's message... Mmmm.

One more example - from today. It's been a good two days for creative advertising! I was out in Bromley and wandering the streets, up to no good, when I came across this beauty outside a bar (The Barrel and Horn).

Whilst the IH Newcastle one had me smiling and the oat milk one, frowning, this one had me chuckling intelligently and wanting to grab a quick snifter before facing the rest of day. Clearly, the barman has seen a gap in the market in Bromley North, his bar being just down the road from St. Peter's Church!