Hospitality Groups Clash with Weather Chaos as June Sales Plateau

Pub, Bar and Restaurant Groups Keep June Sales Steady, Despite a Rough First Half

According to the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, Britain’s big hospitality groups wrapped up their first half of the year with June sales flat compared to last year. That’s a mixed bag after a 1% dip in May, and the only period this year that saw real‑term growth was a pleasantly warm April.

June’s Numbers – A Weather‑Affected Middle Ground

Pubs are the silver lining: like‑for‑like sales jumped 1.2% versus June 2024, the biggest upturn among all segments.
Restaurants slipped a hair—down 0.5% year‑on‑year.
Bars stayed in the red, falling 5.7% against last year’s figure.
On‑the‑go sales took a hit of 4.0%.

The weather played its part, and the crowd was distracted by the Euro 2024 men’s football tournament, making June’s performance a bit of a wash.

Regional Disparities – London Lagging Behind

The Tracker shows that within the M25, June sales dipped 1.0% YoY, while sales outside the capital edged up by 0.4%. London has been trailing the rest of the country for five of the first six months of 2025.

Total Sales – Slightly Above Inflation

Across all channels, including venues opened in the last 12 months, groups were 2.8% ahead of June 2024. That’s a touch below the UK’s inflation rate (CPI) but still a positive headline.

What Industry Leaders Say

Karl Chessell (CGA by NIQ): “June’s figures finish a tough first half. Pubs are doing fairly well as confidence slowly rebuilds, but the rest of the sector remains under pressure from fragile consumer sentiment and rising labor costs. A brighter summer weather might just spark the return to growth.”

Saxon Moseley (RSM UK): “We’re seeing almost every segment hit negative sales and higher costs. That’s forcing some big names into restructuring, closures, or permanently shutting the doors. With wages at a breaking point and potential new pension obligations on the horizon, there’s a real risk of the final nail in the coffin—unless the Treasury steps in to ease the burden.”