Trade down 45% on opening weekend for pub and restaurant groups

Managed pub, bar and restaurant groups that opened last Saturday saw like for like trading 44.5% down compared to the same weekend last year, according to CGA’s Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

Figures revealed that 36% of group-operated sites opened on 4 and 5 July, with pubs and bars seeing lower levels of sales than restaurants.

Managed pubs and bars saw sales 44.7% below pre-covid levels compared to the same weekend in 2019, and group-owned restaurants were 41.1% down.

More pubs reopened than restaurants, with 42% of managed pubs and bars trading compared to just 12% of restaurants.

“Trading at around 55% of pre-COVID norms may seem a disappointing result, and it won’t be profitable for operators, but it is very much in line with what we have seen in other markets,” said Karl Chessell, director of CGA.

“It is going to take time for the trade to return but this provides a foundation on which to build consumer confidence and adapt and improve operations.”