Average rate of sale increased 3% compared with September 2025, the figures showed, providing an encouraging start to autumn trading.
The uptick was attributed to unusually warm weather, as well as the Premier League, Champions League football and university Freshers’ Week
Join our new 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. Remember to turn notifications on in the top right corner!
Join the channel here.
Despite the number of operating venues falling slightly to 99,297, consumers were also spending more time in pubs and bars.
Average occupancy reached 66.1%, up 4.2 percentage points year-on-year, while dwell time increased by 12 minutes to 154 minutes.
Favourable trading
Growth was recorded across every location type, with suburban venues leading the charge with a 3.2% increase in rate of sale, followed by rural (2.7%), city (2.3%) and London pubs (2%).
This contrasted with August, when only city and London locations avoided decline.
Meanwhile, average spend per head rose 3.5% to £26.97, driven by a 5% increase in food spend to £32.54, while drink spend increased 1.5% to £21.12.
Category wise, stout (5.9%) and cider (5.8%) were the strongest-performing on a Moving Annual Total basis, followed by world lager (4.8%), while craft returned to growth at 0.7%.
However, core lager, down 3.9%, and ale down 3.6%, remained under pressure. Total-market rate of sale was 0.4% ahead on a Moving Annual Total basis.
Encouraging performance
Commenting on the figures, Oxford Partnership chief executive Alison Jordan said: “September’s performance is particularly encouraging because we’re now seeing growth in draught volumes alongside the higher occupancy, longer visits and increased consumer spending that have characterised much of this year.
“What’s especially positive is that growth is no longer confined to particular locations or major sporting occasions.
“Every location type recorded an improvement, suggesting that underlying demand is strengthening as we move into the final quarter.”
However, Jordan warned maintaining momentum as temperatures fall and trading becomes more dependent on indoor occasions as the festive season gets underway would be a challenge.
