Restaurants, pubs sales down 27% in June YoY, but near 2019 levels
Total sales in restaurants were up by 3% in June.
Britain’s managed pub, restaurant and bar groups saw sales drop just 1% in June from the same month in 2019, according to the new edition of the Coffer CGA Business Tracker.
The Tracker, produced by CGA in partnership with The Coffer Group and RSM, showed sales nearly level on both a total and like-for-like basis.
Total sales in restaurants were up by 3% in June. Pubs recorded a 2% drop, attributed to mixed weather and restrictions “dampening any benefit from the Euro 2020 football tournament.”
Sales meanwhile were down by 11% in bars, where social distancing and early closing requirements continue to impact footfall.
June's performance was labelled as a significant improvement on May, when total sales were down by 26% on May 2019. The Tracker also revealed sales outside the M25 were up 4% in June, but down by 11% inside the M25.
Results from the Tracker were released on 19 July, the so-called ‘Freedom Day’ when the country lifted most remaining coronavirus restrictions after more than a year of lockdowns, mask mandates and other pandemic-related curbs.
Managed groups' sales in the 12 months to June 2021 were down by 27% on the previous 12 months. Research for the CGA and AlixPartners Market Recovery Monitor, meanwhile, shows that Britain now has around 9,000 fewer licensed premises than it did a year ago.
"With an easing of COVID restrictions imminent, it suggests a bright outlook for the eating and drinking out sector. However, rising costs and limited capacity mean many businesses are still struggling to make a profit, and major challenges including debt burdens and a recruitment crisis are casting a long shadow. Hospitality remains fragile, and it will need sustained support and concessions from government in the months ahead if it is to help drive the UK's economic recovery,” said Karl Chessell, director - hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA
A total of 55 companies provided data to the Coffer CGA Business Tracker.
