‘Public nervousness’ about going out led to a 1.5% decline in like-for-like sales in the capital, although it was chain restaurants rather than pubs that bore the brunt of the decline.
CGA Peach vice president Peter Martin said: ““The public’s nervousness is understandable and it seems London has been affected both by a drop-off in tourist business and Londoners not staying out as long after work. Operators are reporting both reduced sales and cancellations of bookings, in restaurants and late night venues.
“Although the rest of the country managed to deliver a slight sales uplift of 0.3% on the same month last year, the impact on London sales left managed pubs and restaurant groups nationally looking at an overall 0.2% like-for-like decline for the month.
“When you consider that October had seen a 2.5% jump in like-for-like sales nationally, with London up 3.5%, you can see the scale of this November’s fall-back.”
However, both Martin and Davis Coffer Lyons director Trevor Watson stressed that operators should be able to look forward to a strong December, the industry’s busiest trading period.
Pubs were warned to be vigilant and to review security arrangements following the attacks due to the ‘serve risk’ of further incidents.
Operators were asked to be on particularly high alert after hospitality venues were among those targeted by terrorists in Paris.
Parisians launched an online campaign #TousAuBistrot- which roughly translates as ‘to the bar’- encouraging people to go out to the city’s bars in an effort to keep tourism going and show defiance.