The outstanding weather gave an extra boost to trading for restaurant and pub operators during this year’s extended Easter bank holiday weekend. But with record Easter temperatures, it was those sites with decent outdoor areas that benefited the most. Some others saw less impressive growth or even a decline. Here’s what ten different companies told M&C Report:
Jamie’s Italian
Managing director Simon Blagden said overall trading across the chain had been pretty good, with positive like-for-likes, but agreed that those city centre sites without outside seating had found it difficult over the last week. He said: “This weather takes away the lunchtime trade and strengthens your evening trade but it remains difficult for those sites without external seating to benefit.”
Loungers
For Loungers, the operator of 17 pubs and bars in suburban areas in the West Country, trading was a mixed bag. Overall like-for-likes were up 2.98% for the week, but there were dramatic variations in performance depending on location and facilities. Takings at Seco Lounge in Plymouth, with its marina location and 70 covers outside, were up an incredible 49%, taking a record £30,000 for the week - that’s despite the venue being closed last Monday for refurbishment. On the other extreme, another site saw like-for-likes down 32%. “Our units that have no outside space and are quite small, and not particularly airy, were decimated over the weekend,” said managing director Alex Reilley.
TCG
Nigel Wright, chief operating officer at 107-strong pub and bar group TCG, said: “We’ve had great weather, a later Easter and the start of 11-day holiday, which has combined to be the perfect storm for the perfect Easter. Some of the larger sites such as Tattershall Castle [the boat moored in Westminster] and those with large gardens have done exceptionally well. Community pubs with lack of external facilities have done ok but not quite as well.” He added that there’s also been a double-digit growth in like-for-like sales, although Wright pointed out that the figure is deceptive because Easter fell on different days last year.
Thorley Taverns
Kent-based pub, bar and restaurant operator Thorley Taverns saw like-for-like trading up 32% across the week. “Trading was fantastic. We couldn’t have hoped for better weather,” said managing director Phil Thorley. Trading was boosted by opening of the company’s latest site, Hoy Bar & Kitchen opposite the new Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate, which opened in the first week of April. “It’s going fantastically well,” Thorley added. “We are doing great numbers there on food and having good feedback.”
Wagamama
Chief executive Steve Hill reported a mixed picture across the company’s 70 UK restaurants. He said: “It was quiet across most of the major cities as people headed for the coast. On the flip side our restaurants with outside seating were like gangbusters, performing really well.”
Bravo Inns
Bravo Inns, which operates 24 pubs across the north west, experienced “double digit” growth across the week. Managing director Ken Buckley said that as well as the fine weather, sport also proved a boost to trade. “We have sporty pubs so the fact that there’s been a really exciting Premier League season that’s coming to its climax is very helpful.”
Amber Taverns
Clive Preston, chairman of Lancashire-based Amber Taverns, said trading was “up against our expectations”. “I think the pubs that have good beer gardens did particularly well. We had a really good weekend - I’m expecting a similar one this week. We got off to a good start so far with the bank holiday.” Like-for-like sales are about 5% up on this time last year, although Preston pointed out that comparisons are difficult because the company has added 14 sites in the past 12 months (it now operates 61 pubs).
TLC Inns
Steve Haslam, founder of four-strong TLC Inns, said the company had its best sales week ever with all four sites performing exceptionally well. Takings for the week beat the previous best sales week, which fell during the summer months. Quality out-side areas at all four pubs helped the company’s four sites out-perform.
Anglian Country Inns
“It was probably the best trading we’ve ever had,” said company co-founder James Nye. “It was absolutely flying at all three of our sites.” Takings were up by 20% on Easter 2010 and Nye said the fact that its pubs all have decent beer gardens was a huge benefit. “In our Hertfordshire site [the Fox in Willian] the beer garden was jam packed from three in the afternoon until 10 at night.”
Cote
Chief executive Andy Bassadone said trading had been generally good, although central London was quieter than usual, especially those sites without a terrace. He said that the chain’s town centre sites across the south of England had especially benefited from the good weather over the last week.
