City Pub : Pubs toast return to city offices

Published: 2021-09-24 01:21:10 ET CPC.L

UB COMPANIES have raised a glass to returning office workers as they report increased sales across central London venues.

City Pub Group yesterday said it had witnessed an uptick in sales at city centre sites since the beginning of September, as the return to offices gained momentum.

The group reported sales above 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

But it isn't all going down smoothly.

The company's venues in the capital have found labour shortages much more difficult than elsewhere around the country, despite the end of the pingdemic proving some muchneeded relief.

Students returning to the capital were also expected to stem labour shortages with young people keen to take on part-time jobs around their studies.

Harvester operator Mitchells & Butlers said yesterday it had seen a stronger recovery in suburban and food-led brands.

The pub group described sales as "volatile" since pubs were permitted to reopen for indoor trading in May, but said they had generally strengthened overall.

Food-led and suburban brands had fared better than city boozers as customers looked for premium options, according to the Toby Carvery and All Bar One operator.

Revenue hit 97 per cent of pre-pandemic levels since May and 104 per cent in the most recent eight weeks, as office workers, football fans, and socialising Brits made their way to the bar.

Fuller's said sales in the seven weeks to 18 September 18 were at 86 per cent of levels seen before the pandemic.

The British Institute of Innkeeping said 84 per cent of members pubs' summer trading was below levels in 2019, with half trading below 75 per cent. It warned the cost of food and drink was rapidly escalating, wages were having to be upped to attract staff as taxes were also set to rise.

"Further investment will be required by Government to safeguard the future of our nations' pubs and enable them to be at the heart of the economic recovery," Steven Alton, BII CEO, said today.