Data from the latest Lumina Intelligence Operator Data Index showed the UK pub and bar market grew 2.2% in 2025 to £24.2bn. Though outlet numbers fell 1.3%, as cost pressures forced operators to trim estates and focus on stronger-performing multifaceted sites.
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Larger managed groups continued to pull ahead, with turnover up 2.8% despite a 2% drop in sites, highlighting the advantage of scale as businesses navigate inflation, labour costs and rising overheads.
Polarised performance
At brand level, performance became more polarised between operators.
The report detailed Loungers posted growth of 18.3%, supported by new openings and its all-day model, while JD Wetherspoon (JDW) and core Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) brands also edged forward.
Meanwhile, the Whitbread-owned Beefeater division saw turnover fall 27.3% following estate cuts, underlining the pressure on more traditional formats and “legacy” brands.
The Index also indicated operators increasingly turned to larger, multi-use venues as part of their growth strategy, combining food, drink and entertainment to encourage longer visits and higher spend, pointing to the launch of Ludo Sports & Live Lounge’s biggest site to date.
Flexible formats
Experiential concepts such as Flight Club, O’Neill’s and NQ64 were found to consistently resonate with guests, particularly with younger consumers, while expansion from groups including Heartwood Inns demonstrated ongoing confidence in differentiated, destination-led formats.
Menu development also shifted in Q4 2025, with operators introducing globally inspired comfort dishes to broaden appeal and capture more occasions throughout the day, including Asian-style crispy prawns, Bao Buns and Korean pork belly bites.
The report added operators investing in flexible formats and clear propositions were best placed to drive performance, with Lumina predicting experience-led venues will play a bigger role as the market continues to consolidate.
