Consumers spent an average of £27.08 per head when visiting the on-trade last month, up 4% on August 2025, the latest Market Watch data from Oxford Partnership revealed.
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They also spent longer in venues, with average dwell time rising by 13 minutes year-on-year to 154 minutes.
Average occupancy was also up, increasing by 4.24 percentage points compared with the same period in 2025 to 66.23%.
Food led the increase in spending, jumping 5.4% against August last year to an average of £32.58 per head.
Drinks spend also increased, albeit at a slower rate, up 2.1% to £21.23 per head.
Varied performance
However, the higher spend, longer visits and increased occupancy did not translate into increased draught volumes.
Total draught volumes fell 3% year-on-year, while rate of sale (RoS) declined by 1.7%, reversing the strong growth recorded during the World Cup in July.
The longer-term picture was more stable, with total market Moving Annual Total (MAT) RoS flat at 0%.
Performance also varied significantly between drinks categories.
Stout continued to lead growth, with RoS up 6.4%, followed by cider at 4.7% and world lager at 4.4%.
At the other end of the spectrum, core lager saw a 4.4% downturn, while ale slumped by 3.9%.
Overall experience
Despite the drop in August volumes, year-to-date figures remained closer to last year’s levels.
Total volumes for the year to date stood at 0.8% behind 2025, while RoS was up 0.5%.
Commenting on the findings, Oxford Partnership CEO Alison Jordan said: “August tells us something important about the underlying health of the on-trade.
“The exceptional drinks volumes generated by the World Cup may have faded, but consumers haven’t stopped going out. They’re staying longer, venues are busier and spending has reached a new high.”
She continued: “The challenge for operators and suppliers is turning that strong engagement into greater commercial value.
“It’s no longer simply about getting people through the door, but understanding how to make the most of every occasion, whether that’s through food, drinks or the overall experience.”
