The latest NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, produced by NIQ in association with RSM, showed pubs recorded like-for-like sales growth of 1.9% year-on-year last month.
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It marked the strongest month for pubs so far this year.
The rise was attributed to World Cup fixtures alongside periods of warm weather across many parts of the country.
While pubs shined, other hospitality channels found trading conditions more challenging, with many consumers choosing to save spending for the World Cup or staying at home to watch matches.
Restaurant groups saw sales fall by 0.7% year-on-year, making June their second-worst month of 2026.
Sharper decline
Bar groups experienced a sharper decline, with sales down 5.8%, extending a prolonged run of negative figures.
Across the sector as a whole, June was virtually flat, with sales increasing by just 0.2% compared with the same month last year.
Growth remained within one percentage point either side of flat throughout the first half of 2026 and has now been below inflation for 14 consecutive months.
Despite the challenging conditions, hospitality groups saw stronger results when total sales were considered.
Including venues opened within the last 12 months, sales jumped 3.8% in June, marginally ahead of inflation.
London continued to slightly outperform the rest of the country for the third consecutive month, with like-for-like sales up 1% within the M25, while sales were exactly flat outside the M25.
Commenting on the findings, NIQ hospitality operators and food EMEA Karl Chessell said: “June’s numbers complete a modest first half of the year for hospitality, in which any real-terms growth was very hard-earned.
Real winners
“The combination of the World Cup and sunshine was a boost to pubs, and we can expect strong July results after England’s progress in the tournament.
“However, big events and the heat tend to work less well for restaurants, who are besieged by high costs at the moment.”
Chessell added top-line growth was “encouraging” and indicated operators and investors had enough long-term confidence to open new premises.
Meanwhile, RSM head of leisure and hospitality Saxon Moseley noted wet led pubs had been “the real winners” of the World Cup.
“Strong like-for-like growth bolstered by the hot weather underscores the importance of experience-led spending in the current climate,” Moseley continued.
“However, RSM’s latest Consumer Outlook highlights that discretionary spending remains constrained and highly selective.
“As we look ahead to the second half of the year, operators will be hoping that Andy Burnham delivers on his promise to reform business rates and put more cash in consumers’ pockets.”
