Christmas cheer for managed operators

Managed operators enjoyed brisk business over the festive period - with nearly 60 per cent reporting a rise in like-for-like sales pre and post-Christmas.

However overall trading was "mixed" and nearly half expect the first quarter of 2009 to be "dire".

An Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) survey found 61 per cent of members experiencing a rise in trade in the week commencing December 21 - and a week later more than two thirds reported like-for-like sales were up. A quarter of the 1,666 respondents said trade rose by 10 per cent or more in this period.

Some of this upturn was due to food-led outlets benefiting from companies ditching expensive Christmas parties in favour of a trip down to the local, the group said.

However not all ALMR members benefited from a seasonal boost. Smaller traditional pubs suffered as people celebrated Christmas at home, the survey found.

ALMR chief executive Nick Bish said: "These figures show that Britain's credit crunch Christmas was a mixed bag for bars and pubs."

Despite 2008 being a year to forget for pubs, Bish added the trade had "come out fighting by offering value for money, giving credit crunched Britons more bang for its buck".

The survey also found that 48 per cent of respondents fear that the first quarter of this year could prove to be "dire" for trading. Nearly half (45 per cent) expect the year to prove a poor prospect for takings.

Bish added: "Our members are right to be cautious about the next 12 months; all the indications are that the current recession will get worse before it gets better. Like all businesses, pub and bars will have to adapt to tougher trading conditions.

"What is most important is that the government does more to ease the burden on pubs and bars."