37 pubs and bars closed per week in 2020

The latest Lumina Intelligence UK Pub & Bar Market Report 2021​​​​, which was presented commercial director Ed Sibley at The Morning Advertiser​’s MA Leaders conference today (Thursday 23 September) in Leeds.

Sibley said: “We expect £5.7bn of growth this year but a difficult year of trading however, helped by pub market recovering faster than restaurant market, pent up demand and Euros.

“37 outlets closed each and every week in 2020. We were seeing positive movement of albeit net closures over the past few years.

“However, we are predicting that trend will bounce back and continue in subsequent years. Net closures to be offset by 2024 (forecasted).”

Drinks offer

Furthermore, when it comes to serving drinks in the trade, coffee and hot chocolate hugely over index when people aren’t having a meal.

A fifth (21%) of non-alcoholic drinks bought in pubs and bars are now coffee. This was behind soft drinks at 43%.

Two in five consumers prefer to order and pay at the bar and agreed mobile apps or QR codes are more convenient, faster than ordering at the bar and limits unnecessary contact with others.

Meanwhile, 15% of consumers would like to see special discounts and promotions for using an app while 13% would like nutritional and allergen information. Almost three quarters (70%) want an option to group split the bill in an app.

Digital ordering

The report also stated operators could use digital ordering to encourage browsing with over half (55%) of consumers agreeing they find browsing menus easier in an app.

Delivery as a buying method sat between 20% and 35% throughout the winter and spring months from 2020 to 2021 while the UK was in lockdown periods.

Lumina is expecting consumers to engage in the delivery to a greater extent as the nights draw in.