UK restaurant numbers drop with two closures a week

The number of restaurants in Britain fell by 0.4% in the year to March an equivalent of nearly two closures a week, the new edition of the Market Growth Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners has revealed.

Analysts suggested that the decline comes amid fears among operators of oversupply in the market and is a sign of the challenges that are currently faced by casual dining operators, following a sustained period of new openings.

The Market Growth Monitor data showed that restaurant numbers rose by 15.6% since March 2013, but planned site closures by several major brands have now helped to contribute to a fall over the last 12 months.

Research from CGA’s sources indicates broadly flat sales, rising food costs and modest but improving confidence among leaders of the out-of-home eating and drinking sectors.

A continued drop in restaurant numbers is now likely in the second half of 2018, the Monitor suggests, though many casual dining brands are expected to expand their estates around Britain.

Across all licensed premises, the Market Growth Monitor records a 1.3% fall in numbers in the 12 months to March 2018. That marks an acceleration in the pace of closures since the last edition of the Monitor, which recorded a year-on-year drop of 0.3%.

The data also found that in Leeds, the number of food-led licensed premises rocketed by 37.9% in the five years to March 2018, with growth in Manchester (33.6%) and Liverpool (31.9%) nearly as steep. The report also shows a rise in the number of entertainment-based licensed premises, contrasting with a decline in circuit bars.

CGA vice president Peter Martin said: “It has not been an easy year in the out-of-home eating and drinking out market, and this new data is an indication of the pressures that restaurant operators have been under.

“With over-supply becoming apparent, input costs still rising and Brexit causing uncertainty, we are likely to see a further restraint in new openings this year. But CGA research also shows that people continue to go out to eat and drink, and brands with strong differentiation and customer focus can continue to flourish.”

AlixPartners managing director Graeme Smith added: “As predicted in the previous edition of the Market Growth Monitor, the total number of restaurants in the UK has fallen for the first time, and we expect the decline to continue over the short to medium term as larger chains manage their site portfolios.

“This presents an opportunity for younger, growing concepts to expand, potentially at preferential terms or in locations that were previously reserved for the larger chains, which could help kick-start their next phase of growth.”