Managed pub groups saw a like-for-like sales rise of 2.8% over the month with CGA by NIQ data showing it was a particularly strong period for sales of beer and cider.
Bar sales, however, were down by 5% on August 2024, and the on-the-go segment was 4.5% behind.
The fall in managed restaurant group sales comes after the segment saw its first year-on-year sales increase since December 2024 in July.
With all channels combined, the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker shows like-for-like growth of 0.5% for hospitality operators in August.
It is the Tracker’s first positive month since April and only the third of the year so far.
Total sales, including at venues opened by groups in the last 12 months, were up by 3.9% — fractionally ahead of the UK’s current rate of inflation.
“The hospitality industry returned to growth in August with positive like-for-like sales for the first time since April. While good news for the sector, the figures do mask differing fortunes, with restaurants in particular continuing to report real terms reductions in turnover,” says Saxon Moseley, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM UK.
“Of concern to operators will be the rise in the use of discounting to entice cautious consumers through the doors, which risks squeezing margins further amid rising input and labour costs.
“As we enter the final months of the year, all will be hoping that the budget will provide a boost to consumer confidence and offer some relief to a sector that has borne the brunt of this year’s tax rises.”
For the sixth month out of eight, hospitality operators in London were outperformed by groups further afield.
Sales within the M25 were 0.3% up on August 2024, but were ahead by 0.6% outside of the M25.
“August’s figures complete a challenging Summer for hospitality,” says Karl Chessell, director - hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ
“Ongoing price rises are making consumers cautious, and while the sunshine loosened some people’s spending in pubs, many restaurants have found it hard to generate the sustained real-terms growth that is needed to mitigate sharp increases in costs.
“The future remains bright for well-run, good-value and guest-focused hospitality groups, but the outlook remains difficult for some businesses as we move into the crucial final months of the year.”