Sunshine boosts British bar and pub sales

Sales in UK bars and pubs during May were up by 3.5% compared to the same period last year – thought to be directly linked to good weather across the nation.

UK bar saw sales rise by 3.5% in May, while restaurants saw a dip in like-for-like sales

According to the latest figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker, while managed pubs saw a collective like-for-like jump, casual dining brands saw sales drop by 2.1% against the same period last year.

Peter Martin, vice president of CGA, the business insight consultancy that produces the Tracker, said: “It’s a familiar story. When the sun shines people head for the pub, or more precisely the pub garden. In contrast, restaurants do better when it’s dull and damp.

“Weather remains the biggest factor when it comes to sales in the out-of-home market. It’s the way it is.”

Regionally, London did marginally better than the rest of the country with like-for-like sales for the hospitality sector, including pubs and restaurants, rising by 1.6%. While outside the M25, sales rose by 1.4%.

Mark Sheehan, managing director of Coffer Corporate Leisure, said: “It’s always easy to blame the weather. But it was a long wait until May when the pub sector got the benefits of some sunshine.

“Better weather and a World Cup with a record 32 teams should see very strong trading for many pub businesses over the coming period. Restaurants and food-led pubs may have a tougher summer to add to the pressures they are under.

“In the longer term, we see competition for casual dining chains becoming a little less intense as poorer performing units are closed.”