Pub and restaurant groups grow Christmas trading 2.8%

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 15 January, 2015

Pub and restaurant groups across the country enjoyed a festive trading boost of 2.8% on the same period last year, with those inside London putting in a stronger performance.

The latest figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker showed like-for-like sales up 4.4% in the capital, versus 2.3% outside the over the six weeks to January 3, 2015.

Total sales, which include new openings, were up 6.6% on 2013 among the 30 bar and restaurant groups that make up the Tracker sample. They include & Butlers outlets, Carluccio's and Gondola Leisure.

"With supermarkets and specialist off-licences, like Majestic Wine, seeing seasonal sales suffer, it seems the British public decided to go out and have fun rather than just stay at home," said Peter Martin, vice president of Peach, the business insight consultancy that produces the Tracker, in partnership with Coffer Group, Baker and .

Eating out Eating out still drove sales over ChristmasSource: Mitchells & ButlersDrink-led pubs and bars did well, as rose 3%, with those in London seeing the strongest uplift. Although drinks sales rose 2%, food was still the biggest driver, said Martin.

The results also show that restaurant chains had a better Christmas than pubs, with collective like-for-likes 4.7% ahead of last year, compared to a 2% collective increase for managed pub and bar groups.

Wet-led pubs and bars did well, as rose 3%, with those inside the seeing a 5.6% increase. But Martin said: "Although drink sales were up 2%, food was the biggest driver of growth, even within these predominantly drink-led environments, with sales up 6.8% over the period."

Casual dining brands grew more strongly outside London, with growth up 5.4% over Christmas, compared to 3.6% inside the capital.

"What's clear is that the eating and drinking out market is performing more strongly than retail, with latest British Retail Consortium figures showing a 0.4% like-for-like decline in December for the retail sector against 2013. For the British public it is not just about acquiring things any more it's about buying experience - and perhaps this sector rather than retail should be the accepted measure of economic health," said Martin.

Mark , managing director at Coffer Corporate Leisure, said: "The December 2014 numbers were excellent, capping a resurgent year for eating and drinking out. Despite the lowest inflation on record the sector continues to outperform, and with consumer spending likely to increase, we expect to see continued good growth."

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