The latest NIQ RSM hospitality business tracker showed like-for-like sales at leading managed groups were 0.8% ahead of August 2025.
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However, the figure was below the 1.4% growth recorded in July, when the sector benefited from World Cup trading.
Pub groups saw like-for-like sales rise by just 0.5% year-on-year in August, while bar groups were down 2.5%.
NIQ and RSM said the end of the tournament had made trading tougher for pubs, while excessive heat in parts of Britain may also have kept some drinkers away from venues.
Restaurant growth
Restaurants were the strongest part of the market during the month, with sales up 2.4% year-on-year.
The tracker said this was the second strongest month for restaurant groups since the start of 2025, as some consumers returned to eating out after focusing more on pub visits during the World Cup.
The on-the-go sector finished 5.5% behind August 2025.
While like-for-like growth remained modest, total sales, including venues opened during the past 12 months, increased by 4.1% year-on-year.
The tracker said this showed new openings were helping groups deliver stronger overall growth, despite subdued underlying trading.
‘Stable if unspectacular’
NIQ director, hospitality operators and food, EMEA, Karl Chessell said it had been a “stable if unspectacular” summer for the sector.
He said: “August was a particularly encouraging month for restaurants, who drew back guests after a long run of weak growth and struggles for footfall during the World Cup, but it was a more challenging one for drink-led pubs and bars.
“Healthy growth on a total sales basis indicates that operators and investors remain optimistic enough about the long-term future of hospitality to open new venues. However, underlying growth remains extremely difficult.”
Chessell added hospitality would be hoping consumers felt able to increase spending in the run-up to Christmas, while also looking to the Government for VAT support.
RSM UK head of leisure and hospitality Saxon Moseley warned that trading remained “subdued” and vulnerable to Government policy changes.
He said: “The recently announced tourist tax threatens to actively stifle consumer behaviour, arriving precisely when the hospitality sector urgently needs the Treasury to stimulate demand and alleviate an already crippling tax burden, rather than adding to it.
“All eyes will be on next month’s Budget to provide clarity and certainty as we approach the all-important festive trading period.”
NIQ collected sales figures from 122 leading managed groups for the latest tracker, including Fuller’s, Greene King, Marston’s, Mitchells & Butlers, Stonegate, Punch Pubs, Young’s, Wells & Co, St Austell, Hall & Woodhouse, Amber Taverns and BrewDog.
