A straw poll by the Publican’s Morning Advertiser among both large and small managed pubcos revealed that operators are feeling positive about Christmas trading and predicting stronger sales than 2013.
Mitchells & Butlers, which runs around 1,700 managed outlets, said bookings are up by about 10% on Christmas Day, compared to last year, and about 5% for the whole of the festive season — and it expects these numbers to grow even further over the coming fortnight.
TCG, the 67-strong pub and bar operator, also said advance Christmas bookings are up 10% on last year, with a rise of 20% for sites outside London. It added there had been a growing demand for “informal drinks and canapé-style gatherings” as an alternative to turkey-with-trimmings, and its Via site in West India Quay, London has taken one booking for £23,000.
Jonathon Swaine, managing director of Fuller’s Inns, said: “Our like-for-like sales are showing a strong upward trend and so we are expecting a good Christmas — especially as more of our pubs are going to be open for lunch than ever before.
Christmas trading is also looking strong for smaller multiple operators.
Informal dining
Giles Fry, managing director of six-strong Snug Bars, said its pre-booked Christmas packages are up 55% year-on-year.
“The relaxed and informal nature of our packages this year has led to an increase in bookings for mid-sized groups of 15-20 people, who are looking for platters and cocktails, rather than the more traditional sit-down three-course meal,” he said.
Derbyshire-based Foundation Inns also said it is seeing more buffet-style bookings from companies across its four sites.
Yummy Pub Co, which has five outlets in the south-east, said it was already up on last year’s sales, in part due to its new events team and a range of themed nights, including carols by candlelight, wine tastings and festive quizzes.
James Davy, chairman of wine bar group Davy’s, said its 28 sites are not open on Christmas Day but bookings across the festive period have risen by 20%.
David Scott, operations manager at six-strong Leeds Brewery, said bookings are up 8% with overall pre-booked revenue up by 12%, reflecting an increased spend per head.
However, he added that bookings have mainly been at peak trading times (Thursday and Friday), rather than spread more evenly over the course of the week, as in previous years.
Lower midweek bookings
Brian Whiting, managing director of Kent-based Whiting & Hammond, which has seven sites, said while Christmas Day was “an easy sell” and New Year’s Eve was “making a comeback”, he was also seeing lower midweek bookings and expects trade to be down on last year.
“Competition in our areas is much higher this year with brands such as Côte, Bill’s, CAU and Jamie’s doing very well in towns.
“Towns are much easier to reach during bad weather. It has been pretty poor in the past few years in the country with floods last year and snow the previous years — and customers don’t forget,” he said.