Brewhouse & Kitchen sales soar 115% during first week of EOTHO
Following the staggered reopening of 17 of its 22 sites throughout July, Brewhouse & Kitchen had already recorded growth of 6.1% during its first four weeks of trading. However, this accelerated to 29.4% during the week ending 8 August.
The group’s chief executive attributed the 115% sales spike to Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which can be used all day, every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between 3 August to 31 August to offer a 50% discount – up to a maximum of £10 per person – to diners for food and non-alcoholic drinks to eat or drink in.
"Food sales have been very strong through the week and we saw growth continue every day through Thursday, Friday and Saturday across the group,” Kris Gumbrell, CEO of Brewhouse & Kitchen said.
"To have been showing growth prior was really pleasing, but the Eat Out to Help Out scheme has been the icing on the cake for our business."
According to the latest Hospitality Leaders Poll from Lumina Intelligence, 55% of operators have seen their weekend trade impacted by Eat Out to Help Out, with more than 10.5m meals claimed on the Chancellor’s scheme during its first week.
Sales increase
As previously reported by The Morning Advertiser, Brewhouse & Kitchen reported 2.9% like-for-like sales growth in its first week of trade after Covid-19 lockdown.
According to a statement from the brewpub operator, its presence on the south coast helped it boost post-lockdown trading though it caveats trading in the capital has been more challenging in general despite sales at its sites in Highbury and Islington, north London being ahead of forecast.
What’s more, the statement also attributed its strong start to post-lockdown trading to the engagement and development with its teams during the Government’s enforced closure period.
The team at Brewhouse & Kitchen worked incredibly hard to ensure that it was "battle-ready" for a strong reopening, it said.
