Trading for hospitality's reopening weekend down 44.5% year-on-year

Trading was down 44.5% year-on-year on the first weekend hospitality venues were able to open, according to latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker data.

The tracker has suggested 36% of group-operated sites were open when restrictions lifted on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July.

The tracker reported that those businesses which opened, with social distancing measures in place, saw sales far below 2019 levels. Down 44.7% for managed pubs and bars and 41.1% for group-owned restaurants.

Karl Chessell, director of CGA, said: "Trading at around 55% of pre-COVID norms may seem a disappointing result, and it won't be profitable for operators, but it is very much in line with what we have seen in other markets.

"When bars and restaurants began reopening in the US during May, it was only after a couple of weeks that sales reached 54% of pre-COVID levels, according to data from Nielsen CGA, our Chicago-based research business.

"It is going to take time for the trade to return but this provides a foundation on which to build consumer confidence and adapt and improve operations."

In all, 32 companies provided data to the tracker, with another 17 operators reporting that they had yet to open any sites.

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