HOTEL NEWS UPDATES

Modest Sales Growth Offers Hope for Festive Boost in On-Premise Venues  01/11/24

Sales in managed venues saw a slight 0.7% increase in the week leading up to Saturday, November 16, compared to the same period in 2023. While modest, this growth offers optimism that the upcoming festive season could stimulate consumer spending after a challenging autumn.

Key drivers of growth were strong performances on Sunday (10 November) and Monday (11 November), with sales rising 8% and 5%, respectively. This uptick was attributed to favourable weather, Premier League matches, and Remembrance Day events in local communities. However, the remainder of the week saw mixed results, with sales dipping by up to 3% from Wednesday to Friday (13-15 November) before levelling off on Saturday.

Drinks categories showed varied results. Long Alcoholic Drinks segments performed well, with beer and cider up 4% and 3%, respectively, while wine and soft drinks also saw modest increases of 3% and 1%. However, spirits continued to struggle, falling 11% behind last November, marking another difficult week for the category.