Sales in 'high' Covid alert tier pubs halved
New data from CGA also revealed venues in the ‘very high’ tier saw daily sales fall between 60% and 62% year on year across the same dates.
This represents a decrease of a quarter (26%) compared with the previous Saturday, driven primarily by drinks sales, which dropped 43% on the week before.
Licensed venues in the lowest tier ‘medium’, faired slightly better but still saw sales down between 22% and 28% year on year.
Catastrophic impact
CGA group chief executive Phil Tate said: “The loss of nearly two thirds of daily sales in top-tier areas like Liverpool is catastrophic for local operators, and with Greater Manchester now set to join them there is a lot more hardship to come.
“It is also alarming to see a sharp drop-off in second-tier areas, where businesses are battling relentless challenges without financial support. Urgent government help is needed if businesses and jobs are to be sustained through this rapid downturn in sales.”
CGA data highlights a steep drop in drinks sales in the highest tier areas, with alcohol only being allowed to be served with a ‘substantial meal’.
On-trade firms in these areas saw wet sales drop by almost three quarters (73%) last Saturday, when compared with last year.
Pub numbers
In the second tier regions, the drop was less at 59% and 31% in all other areas. The spirits category has seen the sharpest fall in sales with a drop of 83% in ‘very high’ areas.
According to data from real estate adviser Altus Group, as of 1 September 2020, there are 37,616 pubs in England – 16,436 of these are currently in tiers two and three.
This equates to 43.69% of all pubs in England are currently under ‘high’ or ‘very high’ restrictions including closures.
The ‘high’ tier means pubs can stay open, subject to the 10pm curfew, with mixing between households indoors banned and socialising outside must adhere to the ‘rule of six’.
The ‘very high’ tier means Licensees have to shut their doors unless they are operating as a restaurant serving a ‘significant meal’, where they can only serve alcohol with this meal.
