The latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker showed managed pub groups enjoyed a bright April, with like-for-like sales growth of 9.1%, attributed to warmer weather encouraging consumers into beer gardens and terraces.
However, some of the growth came at the expense of restaurants, where sales fell 0.9% year-on-year, while bars continued a long run of negative numbers with trading down 4.5%.
Nevertheless, sales across all hospitality group outlets were 4.2% ahead of April 2024—comfortably beating the UK’s recent rates of inflation.
Total sales—including at venues opened by groups in the past 12 months—were 6.8% ahead of April 2024.
Shift in consumer behaviour
However, April’s comparison was slightly inflated by the long Easter weekend, which fell in March last year.
RSM UK head of leisure and hospitality Saxon Moseley said: “The headline growth in like-for-like sales will be celebrated by operators who have endured a contraction in trading since the start of the year.
“This uptick may signal a shift in consumer behaviour as improving weather and greater opportunities to socialise begin to drive spending.
“Pubs were the clear winners from the spring sunshine, but other parts of the hospitality sector can also take encouragement from the broader rise in activity.
“However, consumer confidence remains fragile, so recovery is far from assured.
“Cost pressures remain acute with food inflation outpacing general inflation in April, but for the first time this year there is cautious optimism that revenue growth may ease these concerns.”
Bright start
The figures, based on data from Greene King, Fuller’s, Punch, Stonegate and more, followed year-on-year drops of 1.3% and 0.6% in January and March alongside growth of just 0.1% in February.
In addition, The tracker showed trading outside the M25 was significantly better than in London in April 2025.
Groups’ sales inside the M25 were ahead by 0.9% year-on-year, but further afield they rose by 5.5%.
CGA by NIQ director hospitality operators and food EMEA Karl Chessell said: “After a tough few months for hospitality, the warm weather has given managed pubs a very bright start to the second quarter.
“It is hopefully a sign that some consumers are spending a little more freely, though a disappointing month for restaurants suggests others were simply switching from eating out to drinking out.
“Ongoing high costs for operators, including through heavy new labour bills from April, continue to pile pressure on margins—but while the sun continues to shine, pubs with outdoor spaces can expect trade to remain strong.”
