Payment company Square found full pint sales remained strong, with purchases up 30% year on year. However, smaller serves, including half pints, schooners, bottles and cans, also recorded growth, particularly earlier in the week.
Join our WhatsApp channel: The Morning Round-Up
Get the biggest pub trade stories straight to your phone. Listen to our one-minute daily news briefing and receive breaking news, exclusives and sector updates throughout the day....just remember to turn notifications on in top right corner!
Wednesday smaller serve sales rose 27% year on year, while Monday and Tuesday increased by 23% and 20% respectively.
Square said most smaller serve purchases took place between 5pm and 8pm, with 7pm the busiest hour. London accounted for 44% of all smaller serve sales in Britain.
Moderation trend
Low and no alcohol beer also continued to grow, accounting for 1.02% of total bar transactions, up from 0.84% the previous year.
The data also showed the average price of a pint in 2026 to date was £5.91, compared with £5.81 in 2025 and £5.47 in 2024.
In May this year, the average spend per bar transaction in Britain was £16.39.
John O’Beirne, chief executive of Square International, said: “The pint remains a staple in Britain, but the data suggests those going for a drink after work may be opting for a half pint instead, or as a follow up to a full pint.
“This could be for a number of reasons, including health, cost, or preferring to feel fresh the next day. As the summer continues, bars can expect this trend to build.”
Square compared transaction data from 1 June 2025 to 31 May 2026 with the previous 12-month period, using the same set of locations in both periods.
