EU referendum uncertainty hits restaurant and pub sales

21 April 2016 by
EU referendum uncertainty hits restaurant and pub sales

The uncertainty around the EU referendum could be one of the reasons why like-for-like sales among Britain's managed pub and bar groups was sluggish in March.

Like-for-like sales grew by just 0.6% in March according to the latest figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker and come on the back of zero growth in February.

"It's a generally flat market out there, and the March numbers will be particularly disappointing as they include Easter weekend trading, which fell in April last year. Although the weather over the four-day holiday depressed sales overall, Easter still normally provides a boost to the eating and drinking-out market, no matter how poor the weather," said Peter Martin, vice-president of CGA Peach, the business insight consultancy that produces the Tracker, in partnership with Coffer Group, RSM and UBS.

"Sentiment in the market is that 2016 will be a tougher year than last. Optimism levels are still positive, but down on this time last year, and we are already seeing a cutback in site openings among a number of operators," Martin added. "It will be interesting to see if confidence among both consumers and operators picks up once the uncertainty surrounding the EU referendum is out of the way."

Restaurant chains performed marginally better than managed pub groups over the month, with collective like-for-likes up 1% against 0.4%. Regionally, like-for-likes grew 0.8% outside London and 0.4% inside the M25, compared with March 2015.

This was a reversal of the trend in February, when London performed better.

Total sales for the 32 companies in the tracker were up 4.9% on 2015, reflecting the effect of new openings over the year.

David Coffer, chairman of the Coffer Group, said: "Operators have for some months now endeavoured to expand outside the central London core to avoid spiralling high rents and prices being sought within the capital. This has increased rental values in provincial markets. The acceleration of many excellent brands into these regions has enhanced customer demand and trade, and this is reflected in the latest figures. In our opinion, this trend will continue as we see a far greater reluctance in the central London core to pay major premiums especially for licensed premises. We feel that there is a strong possibility that more opportunities will become available in all markets across the UK and particularly central London."

Adam Spencer, associate director at RSM, added: "Another month of sub-1% like-for-like growth figures will be giving investors in the UK eating and drinking out sector pause for thought. Couple this with the EU referendum vote, which is now only two months away, and we are expecting a notable slowdown in sector activity, with investment decisions being postponed until the outcome of the referendum is known."

Jarrod Castle, leisure analyst at UBS Investment Research, said: "Like-for-like growth showed a continued soft trend. The 12-month moving LFL average inside the M25 ended at 1.2%, compared with 1.1% in both February and January, and outside it was also 1.2%."

Easter rain and declining confidence dent eating-out sales >>
Pubs and restaurants report flat trading in February >>
January boost for pubs and restaurants outside London, says CGA Peach >>


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