Pubs across the UK experienced a notable increase in sales this April, driven by unseasonably sunny spring weather that encouraged consumers to favour beer gardens over indoor dining venues.
According to the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, like-for-like sales at pubs rose by 9.1% year-on-year. Overall, hospitality sector sales climbed 4.2% compared to April 2024, comfortably outpacing the UK’s current rate of inflation. However, this growth was uneven across the sector: restaurant sales edged up by just 0.9%, while bar sales declined by 4.5%.
Saxon Mosely, Head of Leisure and Hospitality at RSM UK, suggested the figures may indicate a shift in consumer preferences, influenced by favourable weather conditions. “Pubs were the clear winners from the spring sunshine, but other parts of the hospitality sector can also take encouragement from the broader rise in activity,” he said.
Despite lingering concerns over consumer confidence, recent trends suggest a potential recovery is underway. Three separate surveys recorded an improvement in consumer sentiment during May, following what analysts described as a “cost-heavy” April.
Neil Bellamy, Consumer Insight Director at GfK, noted that “the measure for personal finances looking ahead for the next 12 months has moved out of negative territory,” adding that consumers also showed greater optimism about the general economic outlook for the year ahead.
This improved sentiment comes as a welcome reprieve for the UK’s hospitality sector, which continues to grapple with mounting costs. Pubs, in particular, are facing sustained pressure from business rates, rising wages, and employers’ national insurance contributions. Food inflation remains a significant challenge, with Mitchells & Butlers—owner of All Bar One—recently citing it as a key headwind.
Nevertheless, there are signs of cautious optimism. In addition to the latest RSM data, several major pub chains, including Wetherspoons, Marston’s, and Young’s, have reported increases in both revenue and profit.
Karl Chessell, Director at CGA, described the early months of 2025 as a “very bright start” for pubs. “It is hopefully a sign that some consumers are spending a little more freely,” he said, although he cautioned that a weak month for restaurants may reflect a shift in consumer behaviour from dining out to social drinking.
“While ongoing cost pressures—such as elevated labour costs introduced in April—continue to squeeze margins, pubs with outdoor spaces can expect strong performance as long as the good weather holds,” Chessell added.
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