Pubs outperformed restaurants and bars in August, data shows

Britain’s leading hospitality groups reported year-on-year sales growth of 1.3% in August 2024, according to recent data.

 

The latest edition of the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, which is conducted among over 100 managed groups, including the likes of Azzurri Group, D&D London, MJMK Restaurants and Young’s, demonstrated tentative signs of consumer confidence.

 

Hospitality businesses have now achieved like-for-like increases in every month of the year, except for April.

 

However, the August results also marked the second successive month of below-inflation growth.

 

Managed pubs outperformed the sector as a whole in August, with year-on-year growth of 2.9%, while restaurants achieved a 0.8% increase. Bars, meanwhile, saw a drop of 9% in sales.

 

Karl Chessell, director of hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ, said: “August’s figures complete a modest summer for hospitality groups, and with the weather and consumers’ confidence both underwhelming, real-terms growth has been elusive. While some bars and restaurants have found it hard to sustain footfall, the picture has been brighter at pubs, especially given the impact of the cool temperatures on beer gardens and terraces.

 

“Consumers remain eager to eat and drink out when they can, but operators will be hoping they will feel confident enough to spend more freely as we move towards the crucial final quarter of 2024.”
 
Saxon Moseley, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM UK, added: “After a lacklustre summer, the hospitality sector will be hoping for further government support in the Autumn Budget, including business rates reform, a reduction in VAT to bring the sector in line with our European counterparts and a fall in employer national insurance contributions to help operators cope with increases in wages.”

 

The Autumn Budget has been scheduled for Wednesday 30 October.

 

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