Opening weekend trade still down by 45% YoY

Managed pubs, bars and restaurants that opened last weekend saw like-for-like trading down by 44.5% against the year prior, according to latest figures from the CGA. 

Managed pubs and bars recorded sales that were down by 44.7% against the same weekend in 2019, while trade in reopened managed restaurants was down by 41.1%.

According to the CGA, however, more pubs opened their doors than restaurants. Its industry barometer found that 42% of managed pubs, bars and pub restaurants traded, while just 12% of restaurants were open for trade.

In total, the group’s latest tracker figures found that 36% of group-operated sites were open for eating and drinking inside on 4 July and 5 July.  

Karl Chessell, director of CGA, said: “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.

“When bars and restaurants began reopening in the US during May, it was only after a couple of weeks that sales reached 54% of pre-COVID levels, according to data from Nielsen CGA, our Chicago-based research business.” 

He added: “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.”