According to the latest Coffer CGA Business Tracker, the UK’s managed pub, restaurant and bar groups saw sales decrease 1% in June 2021 from the same month in 2019.
The tracker showed that sales were “near flat” both overall and on a like-for-like basis, with consumer demand being particularly strong in restaurants, where total sales rose 3% in June.
However, pubs saw a 2% decrease, with mixed weather and restrictions dampening the usefulness of the Euro 2020 football tournament. Sales also fell 11% in bars, where social distancing and early closure requirements continue to drag footfall.
The June performance turned out to be a “significant improvement” from May, when total sales decreased 26% from May 2019.
Karl Chessell, Director of Hospitality Operators and Food, EMEA at CGA, said: “The June figures show the continued appeal of restaurants, pubs and bars and the resilience of the companies behind them.
“But rising costs and limited capacity mean that many companies are still struggling to generate profits, and major challenges such as debt burdens and a recruitment crisis cast long shadows.”
Paul Newman, RSM’s Head of Leisure and Hospitality, added, “This labor shortage for a sector so highly dependent on people is likely to dampen sales in the months ahead.
“Many operators’ finances are still on a knife edge and the government must consider easing the visa barriers for hospitality workers to help the sector recover.”