The like-for-like figure is marginally above Britain’s rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index, and marks the first real-terms growth since June. It provides cautious optimism that consumers are prepared to increase their spending in restaurants, pubs and bars over the crucial Christmas and New Year period.
The Tracker—produced by CGA by NIQ in partnership with RSM UK—shows total sales growth, including new venues opened during the last 12 months, stood at 4.7% in November. Managed restaurants performed best of the main hospitality segments, with like-for-like growth of 3.6%. This just topped a 3.1% increase for pub groups, which benefited from Halloween celebrations at the start of November.
Among other channels, bars continued a long run of negative numbers, with sales down by 5.3% from the same month in 2023. On-the-go venues recorded 2.8% growth.
Trading in London was slightly ahead of the rest of the country for the first time since July, the Tracker indicates. Managed groups’ November sales inside the M25 were up by 3.0% year-on-year, while venues beyond the M25 achieved 2.5% growth.
Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ, said: “After struggling for real-terms growth for much of the Summer and Autumn, November’s trading figures represent a solid if unspectacular recovery. They are particularly welcome in light of the new burden placed on hospitality by the government’s Budget, but costs and margins will continue to be under severe pressure for some time to come. With the vital Christmas and New Year trading period looming, groups will now be keeping everything crossed for favourable weather and strong consumer confidence so they can end 2024 on a high.”
Saxon Moseley, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM UK: “November’s results represent a welcome rebound in spending after consumer confidence took a hit in the run up to October’s Autumn Budget, with like for like growth the highest since June and above the average for the 2024 year. Amidst a wave of tax rises and changes to legislation which are set to significantly increase costs for the sector, the hospitality industry is in desperate need of revenue growth to balance the books.
Operators will therefore be hoping this is the start of a sustained period of increased leisure spending, driven by rising real wages, falling interest rates and improving consumer confidence. With the festive trading period in full swing, all operators will want this Christmas are strong sales to close out the year.”
CGA by NIQ collected sales figures directly from 115 leading managed groups for November’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 Andy 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, Pure, , 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.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.