Pubs performed better than restaurants across the first week back, as consumers celebrated the return of hospitality in beer gardens and other outdoor spaces. Like-for-like sales in managed drink-led pubs were down by 11% year-on-year and down by 22% in pub restaurants. With the majority of sites still closed, total sales last week were 57% down on the equivalent week in April 2019.
Karl Chessell, business unit director- hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA, commented: “While sales are well down on what we would expect in a normal April, managed groups are returning well after months of closure.
“Pubs benefited from the widespread sunshine and the eagerness of consumers to drink out again after so long at home. With the weather set fair and consumers reassured about the safety of outdoor hospitality, we can expect the positive start to eating and drinking out to continue.
“Total sales will be far off pre-pandemic levels for some time to come, and businesses will need support from local and central government as they embark on the long road to recovery."