The like-for-like figure is the Tracker’s highest point since May and is just above Britain’s general rate of inflation. It represents a solid performance for the hospitality sector over the crucial month of December, which brought a surge in consumer spending in the final fortnight.
The Tracker—produced by CGA by NIQ in partnership with RSM UK—shows total sales growth in December was notably higher at 5.2%, reflecting a steady stream of new managed restaurant, pub and bar openings over the last 12 months.
Among major hospitality channels, pubs enjoyed the best December as consumers celebrated the run-up to Christmas and New Year’s Eve with friends and families. Pub groups’ like-for-like sales were 4.7% ahead of December 2023, while restaurants’ growth was more muted at 1.6%. Elsewhere, bars bounced back from soft trading throughout most of 2024 to post growth of 1.3%. The on-the-go segment of the market dropped 1.2%.
December trading in London comfortably outpaced the rest of the country, the Tracker shows. Managed groups’ sales inside the M25 were up by 4.6% year-on-year, while venues further afield rose 2.8%.
Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ, said: “After a modest performance through most of 2024, real-terms growth in December was a big relief for the hospitality sector. The late festive sales show people remain eager to celebrate special occasions in pubs, bars and restaurants, and provide a welcome buffer for the much quieter months of the year. However, with the costs of doing business sure to rise further and consumers’ confidence still patchy, 2025 is likely to be another challenging year for many hospitality businesses.”
Saxon Moseley, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM UK, said: “December’s results cap off a lacklustre year for the hospitality industry, with average like-for-like revenues tracking below inflation for most of 2024 despite an encouraging festive trading period. This recent uptick in trade alongside a forecast improvement in consumer confidence should give operators hope that 2025 will be a stronger year. However, given the significant tax rises and regulatory burdens that will impact the sector this year, and with little capacity to absorb these additional costs, businesses will need to tread a fine line between raising prices to preserve margins whilst not spooking consumers”.
Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, said: “December is the most important month of trading for most hospitality businesses, and was even more critical in 2024 as the sector faces £3.4 billion in added cost in April.
“Real-terms sales growth as a whole is encouraging but with performance varying quite significantly across the sector, it is unlikely to be enough to increase business confidence heading into a challenging year.”
CGA by NIQ collected sales figures directly from 113 leading managed groups for December’s edition of the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, which provides authoritative monthly insights into Britain’s restaurant, pub and bar sales. Companies participating in the Tracker receive a fuller breakdown of trading that helps to benchmark performance and understand market trends. To join the cohort, contact Andrew Dean at andy.dean@nielseniq.com
Participants in the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker: Adventure Leisure Ltd, All Star Lanes, Amber Taverns, Anglian Country Inns, Arc Inspirations, Azzurri Group (Ask Italian, Coco di Mama, Zizzi), Banana Tree Restaurants, Barburrito, Barworks, Beds and Bars, Big Fang Collective, Big Table Group (Bella Italia, Chiquito, Frankie & Benny’s, Las Iguanas), Bill’s Restaurants, Boom Battle Bar, Boston Tea Party, Boxpark, BrewDog, Burger & Lobster, Buzzworks Holdings Group, Byron, Chance and Counters, Chopstix, Coaching Inn Group Ltd, Comptoir Group Plc, Cote Restaurants, Creams Café, D & D London, Darwin & Wallace, Dishoom, Five Guys, Fortnum & Mason, Fuller Smith & Turner, Gaucho Grill, Giggling Squid, Glendola Leisure, Greene King (Chef & Brewer, Hungry Horse, Flaming Grill), Gusto Restaurants, Hall & Woodhouse, Hawthorn Leisure, Heartwood Collection, Honest Burgers, HOP Vietnamese, Individual Restaurants, Junkyard Golf Club, Kibou, Laine Pub Co, Le Bistrot Pierre, Liberation, Lina Stores, Loungers, Lucky Voice, Marston’s, McMullen & Sons Ltd, Mildreds, Mission Mars, Mitchells & Butlers (Harvester, Toby, Miller & Carter, All Bar One), MJMK Restaurants, Mojo Bar, Mowgli, Nando’s Restaurants, Neos Hospitality, New World Trading Company, Nightcap Plc, North Brewing Co, NQ64 Arcade Bars, Oakman Inns, Parogon Pub Group, Peach Pubs, Pho, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut UK, Popeyes, Portobello Starboard Ltd, Prezzo, Punch Pub Co, , Revolution Bars, Rick Stein Restaurants, Riley’s, Rosa’s Thai, Roxy Leisure, San Carlo, Shepherd Neame, Simmons Bars Group, Snug Bar, Southern Wind Group (Fazenda), St Austell, Star Pubs & Bars, State of Play Hospitality, Stonegate Pub Co (Slug & Lettuce, Yates’, Walkabout, Bermondsey Pub Company), Tasty Plc, TGI Fridays UK, The Alchemist, The Restaurant Group, Thunderbird Fried Chicken, Tonkotsu, Topgolf Ltd, Tortilla, Treetop Golf, True North Brew Co, Turtle Bay, Upham Pub Co, Urban Pubs & Bars, Various Eateries (Strada, Coppa Club), Village Hotels, Wagamama, Wasabi, Wells & Co, Whitbread (Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Table Table), Wingstop, YO! Sushi, Young’s and Yummy Collection.
