Pubs enjoy strong sales ahead of Christmas
Managed pub groups enjoyed strong year-on-year sales last month.
Many of Britain’s leading managed pub groups enjoyed strong year-on-year sales last month, as operators prepare for the peak days of festive trading.
These hospitality groups recorded a year-on-year sales growth of 2.7% in November 2024, according to the latest edition of the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker.
The sales data is collected directly from 115 managed groups across the UK. The like-for-like figure is marginally above Britain’s rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, and marks the first real-terms growth since June.
CGA by NIQ says the numbers provide cautious optimism that consumers are prepared to increase their spending in restaurants, pubs and bars over the crucial Christmas and New Year period.
"After struggling for real-terms growth for much of the summer and autumn, November’s trading figures represent a solid if unspectacular recovery," says Karl Chessell, director - hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ. "They are particularly welcome in light of the new burden placed on hospitality by the government’s Budget, but costs and margins will continue to be under severe pressure for some time to come.
"With the vital Christmas and New Year trading period looming, groups will now be keeping everything crossed for favourable weather and strong consumer confidence so they can end 2024 on a high."
Breaking down the sales
The tracker shows total sales growth, including new venues opened during the last 12 months, stood at 4.7% in November.
Managed restaurants performed best of the main hospitality segments, with like-for-like growth of 3.6%. This just topped a 3.1% increase for pub groups, which benefited from Halloween celebrations at the start of November.
Among other channels, bars continued a long run of negative numbers, with sales down by 5.3% from the same month in 2023. On-the-go venues recorded 2.8% growth.
Trading in London was slightly ahead of the rest of the country for the first time since July. Managed groups’ November sales inside the M25 were up by 3% year-on-year, while venues beyond the M25 achieved 2.5% growth.
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