Hospitality Rebounds: Outlet Growth Soars After Strong First Half of 2024

Britain’s pubs and restaurants are finally coming back to life

0.5 % uptick – that’s five spots a day

The latest Hospitality Market Monitor (thanks to CGA by NIQ and AlixPartners) shows that the number of licensed premises in the UK ticked up by 0.5 % from March to June 2024.
That translates into 462 brand‑new openings, roughly five per day.
It’s the first bump in a quarter‑on‑quarter sense since the middle of 2022 and only the third rise since the start of the COVID‑19 pandemic in early 2020.

Why it matters

Quarter‑on‑quarter growth: A steady lift across the board – not just the chain restaurants but also the independent gems.

Casual dining: The sector is bouncing back like a rubber ball. After a steep 24.1 % drop (from 6,696 sites in 2020 to 5,082 in 2023), we’re now seeing a 1.7 % climb – about three new spots a week in the first half of 2024.

Themed bars: These niche venues are booming, up 28.9 % over the last year. A real win for the “experience” crowd.

Karl Chessell (CGA by NIQ) said:“These numbers show business leaders are back in the game. While we can’t say the decline has capped, the positive sales growth in H1 2024 gives us a bright outlook.Costs are still high, but the sector is on a much steadier path.”Graeme Smith (AlixPartners) added:“Labour, food inflation, and energy costs have eased. We’re seeing robust growth, especially in themed bars—an indicator that consumers want memorable outings. Confidence is rising, and we expect this trend to carry forward.”

The big picture

Even with these gains, the total number of sites (13.8 % below the pre‑COVID figure of 2020) still sits 969 fewer than June 2023.
The long‑term trend remains a bit shaky, but the short‑term trajectory looks promising.

—