Surprise festive fillip for pubs

A better-than-expected festive period has given many operators and licensees a much-needed glimmer of hope in the economic gloom.

The timing of the main days — with weekends falling before and just after Christmas Day, and close behind New Year's Eve — proved a boost to trade.

People traded down from top-end restaurants to pubs, for corporate events in particular, keeping tills ringing. And, though temperatures were low, the generally bright weather favoured the trade, tempting people off the sofa and into the pub.

Ian Payne, chairman of Bay Restaurants and Town & City Pubs, said Christmas and New Year had been "ahead of forecasts".

Bay Restaurants saw double-digit growth while Town & City Pubs sales were also on the rise.

"We were surprised," said Payne. "We had a blinding week last week."

Cornish brewer and pub operator St Austell revealed that trade over the two-week holiday was ahead of last year, with New Year's Day up a full 29% on 12 months ago.

The company said a period of cold, dry and sunny weather had encouraged customers to venture out from their homes and head for the pub.

North-west operator Mitchells of Lancaster, which runs a tied estate of 65 houses, said business in its managed pubs through December was up on last year.

"We were pleasantly surprised by sales in our 23 managed pubs and put this down partly to improved service levels and retail offer," said joint managing director Jonathan Barker.

Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations president Dennis Griffiths said business at his Miners Rest pub in Barnsley had exceeded his wildest dreams.

"We had our best Christmas for years and quite honestly I do not know where everyone came from," he said.

Joseph Holt, which runs 127 managed pubs around Greater Manchester, also maintained that trade had held up well.

"Trade was good despite a longer-than-usual holiday and our returns were very encouraging in both wet

and dry categories," said operations director Tom Dempsey.

Multiple operator Moyo said trade had been "pretty buoyant". "We traded at the same level or slightly above across our estate over last year," said company boss Steve Turner.

"We were between 15% and 20% up in one of the pubs, but throughout the holiday there was a good atmosphere and the weather encouraged people to get out."

Paul Kinsey, boss of nightclub operator Nexum, said: "Overall it was ahead of expectations."

He added: "I could see belts tightening among customers in general, as they went to nights that offered high-profile entertainment or discounted entry.

"It's quite obvious this year that customers have been very targeted with expenditure. The good operators would have planned for that."

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