Brewhouse & Kitchen report like-for-like boost in reopening week

By Emily Hawkins

- Last updated on GMT

Positive but safe: Brewhouse & Kitchen reported good sales in its first week of staggered reopening
Positive but safe: Brewhouse & Kitchen reported good sales in its first week of staggered reopening

Related tags Health and safety Beer Brewhouse and Kitchen

Brewpub group Brewhouse & Kitchen has reported a 2.9% like-for-like sales growth in its first week trading after the Covid-19 shutdown.

This is compared to the same week of trading last year. The group has taken a staggered approach to reopening its 22 sites, which its chief executive Kris Gumbrell said resulted in customers and staff feeling welcomed and comfortable. 

One site opened every weekday last week and two per day will reopen this week, with the site in Southborne, Dorest the first to open on Monday 6 July.

Pubgoers can use the group’s new order and payment platform ‘B&K On Tap’ when visiting the group’s sites.

Gumbrell said: “We are so incredibly proud of our teams across the country, working extremely hard to overcome the difficulties caused by coronavirus, operators will not be given a second chance to make a first impression in this market."

Safe environment

He added: “We know from our guest research that we needed to open well and create a positive but safe environment, our staggered, intensive approach to reopening our sites, adopting further online efficiency and new technologies, has allowed us to ensure the wellbeing and safety of our team and guests.”

Its research found that 75% of previous guests would feel comfortable to drink at Brewhouse & Kitchen within three months of reopening, provided the welfare of customers and staff was a top priority.

The business will be working hard to drive Eat Out to Help Out, the discount scheme launched by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to encourage trade back into venues​, Gumbrell said.

He added: “The initiatives that have been hard fought for by our trade bodies are extremely welcome.”

Speaking to The Morning Advertiser​'s editor Ed Bedington earlier this year, Gumbrell said "we are going to see new consumer behaviour emerge from this [crisis]​."

The company said its click and collect craft beer service had enjoyed a popular trial in June, in addition to a delivery service which sold more than £4000 worth of mini-kegs. The group’s online shop sales reached 75% of last year’s figures in June.

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