Easter celebrations saw increased footfall and longer visits drive meaningful volume growth for pubs, new data from the Oxford Partnership showed, with some 32.9m pints sold across the five-day period, up 4.9% year-on-year from 31.3m in 2025.
This equated to an average of 983 pints per pub, generating approximately £5,185 per venue and underlining the commercial importance of extended holiday trading windows.
Stout was the standout performer, with a 23.1% uptick in sales year-on-year, while world lager grew 6.1% and premium Lager rose 3.4%.
In contrast, more mainstream segments such as core lager and premium 4% ABV declined by 2%, indicating ongoing pressure on traditional, volume-led offerings. Overall rate of sale increased by 4.7%.
Oxford Partnership CEO Alison Jordan said the strength of stout and world lager was “encouraging” as they continue to outperform the wider market.
Clear shift
“Easter 2026 highlighted a clear shift in how consumers are engaging with the on-trade.
“It underlines the importance for operators and suppliers of aligning their offer with evolving consumer preferences, especially during key trading moments like Easter”, she continued.
A key driver of the uplift was a shift in consumer behaviour, with average dwell time rising to 153 minutes, up from 147 minutes last year.
This reflected a continued move towards more intentional, experience-led occasions, Oxford Partnership said. Occupancy also edged up to 65.4%, signalling steady gains in footfall alongside improved engagement.
Rural pubs recorded the longest dwell time, with the average visit lasting 156 minutes, though city centre and urban locations also saw notable increases.
This was especially true for the Three Hills at Bartlow, which is located in a small rural village in Cambridgeshire.
Managing director Emma Harrison told The Morning Advertiser (The MA) the bank holiday weekend in particular had proved “incredibly strong” for the award-winning country pub.
Brilliant atmosphere
“It was fantastic to see so many families joining us, with children enjoying the Easter egg hunt in the garden and creating a brilliant atmosphere throughout.
“Bookings were up on last year, and our roasts were flying out as guests came together to celebrate. The fine weather helped too, letting us host families outside with blankets and heaters to keep everyone comfortable”, she added.
“While recent months have been extremely challenging following the latest Budget, it seems people are determined not to let Rachel Reeves - or anything else - get in the way of their major holiday celebrations. That determination certainly showed in our Easter weekend sales.”
Easter bookings were also up for RedCat Hospitality-owned Coaching Inn Group.
Operating 43 locations across England and Wales and more than 1,000 bedrooms, the group saw bookings climb 6% year-on-year, demonstrating consumer demand for staycations.
A spokesperson for Coaching Inn Group said: “This uplift is underpinned by a 6% rise in rooms sold while guests are increasingly choosing to enhance their stay through packages and upgrades, pushing average spend up by 2%.”
