Gastro pubs ready to reap major Christmas bonus

by Max Gosney

Pub chefs are predicting record breaking Christmas food sales.

Christmas bookings remain buoyant despite indifferent sales among high street retailers, which fell 1% in like-for-like annual sales during November according to British Retail Consortium figures.

Pubs have bucked a trend of slow consumer spend which has afflicted many shops according to Lee Bradshaw, director at Large Bars Ltd, which runs London gastro pub/bars the Angelic in Islington and the Priory in Clerkenwell.

He said: "Business has been 20% up compared with December 2003. We're fully booked for Christmas parties at both venues and I get the impression that it's going to be a great festive period for the trade."

Empty tables will prove a rare sight at pubs over Christmas said Frazer Williams, pub manager at the Samuel Pepys in Slipton, near Kettering, Northamptonshire. He commented: "We're completely full and are likely to double our turnover compared to the 2003 period."

Chefs across the UK are confident of a profitable Christmas period. Yann Martin, co-head chef at the Ring O Bells in Thornton, Bradford, West Yorkshire said: "I've been absolutely flat out for the last three weeks and it doesn't look set to stop until well into the New Year."

Festive fare including roast turkey and Christmas pudding remain favourites among diners this year according to Paul Smith, head chef at the Fountain Hotel, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire "I've just put my organic ice cream Christmas pudding on the menu and it's selling superbly. We've sold more than 60 puddings this week and are anticipating a really busy end to the year."

However, some venues reported a more cautious start to December but remained optimistic of a late surge in sales. John Robinson, proprietor at the Rose & Crown at Highgate High Street, Highgate, London, said: "Trade has been a little bit slow so far and lagging a little bit compared to last year.

"However we have a lot of bookings to come and I'm anticipating a much stronger second half of the month."