Owner of Top 50 Gastropub the Unruly Pig in Bromeswell, Suffolk, Brendan Padfield, The Morning Advertiser (The MA) despite a “slower start” to December, the pub saw its “busiest week ever” over the festive period.
He said: “It was a real turn up for the books and a welcome cash injection. Customers celebrated in style. No wonder given the grim economic picture with the economy flatlining after the Budget.”
Though Padfield added the trading outlook for January looked “bleak”.
“It seemed like a welcome period of escapism for some. But it is now back to reality with the prospects for January looking more bleak than usual. It was great whilst it lasted though”, he continued.
In addition, owner of the Dog at Wingham in Canterbury, which is also on the Top 50 Gastropubs list, Marc Bridgen detailed trade had been “great” from Monday 23 December 2024 to Friday 3 January 2025.
However, Bridgen told The MA while revenue at the pub was up 3% year-on-year, there was “little to no margin”, adding while food and drink sales has been good, accommodation trade was “poor”.
Echoing Padfield, Bridgen also stated January looked “bleak”.
Data from real time market intelligence firm Oxford Partnership revealed 34.8m pints of draught beer and cider were sold in the on-trade over the five key festive trading days.
Building a war chest
The figures equated to an average of 921 pints poured per pub, likening to £4,584 in revenue.
Moreover, sales were up 2.6% over the five days against the same period in 2023, with Christmas Eve proving to be the key night having achieved 9% year-over-year growth.
Separate data from CGA by NIQ revealed managed hospitality groups recorded year-on-year growth of 2.7% the week before Christmas (Monday 16 – Monday 23 December).
Owner of Cheshire Cat Pubs & Bars, which is a finalist in the 2025 Publican Awards, Tim Bird told The MA it had been a “record-breaking” Christmas for the business.
He said: “It was amazing because we had mild, dry and windless days for the first week, and the weather is so important for pubs.”
The award-winning operator added while less favourable weather conditions dampened trade around New Years Eve, the pubco still saw double-digit growth, thanks in part to the key festive days falling midweek and giving people more time away from work to celebrate.
“It could have been better towards the weekend, but it could have also been a lot worse.
“Last week was phenomenal, it was unreal. The teams worked amazingly hard, as every team in hospitality during this time does.
“There seemed to be fewer corporate parties than last year, but these were offset by many smaller groups celebrating the festive season”
Managing director of The Three Hills at Bartlow Emma Harrison
“You have to go for it and build a war chest [over the festive period.]”, he continued.
Some operators anticipated the widely reported Guinness shortage could impact footfall over the key trading days, however, Bird detailed the shortage did not impact his sites as feared.
He added: “Where we needed to, we moved kegs between the pubs, but the chefs cooked brilliantly and the drinks flowed.
“The Bulls Head [in Mobberley] normally orders around eight kegs of Guinness per week but we were limited to two from supplier and two from another.
“But the suppliers did a pretty good job limiting pubs and holding it back, it could have been a lot worse. It was all dealt with sensibly, and they were waiting for deliveries just like us.
“It’s not all about Guinness, if people want to be in your pub, they will drink something else.”
Post-Budget gloom
Meanwhile managing director of the Three Hills at Bartlow, Cambridgeshire, Emma Harrison, told The MA while the pub saw fewer corporate parties, strong food sales and smaller celebrations offset the downturn.
She continued: “Christmas trading at the Three Hills was as good as could be expected given the post budget gloom.
“Food sales were extremely strong - our chefs created a wonderful menu which attracted bookings from locals and visitors alike.
“There seemed to be fewer corporate parties than last year, but these were offset by many smaller groups celebrating the festive season.
“Accommodation sales were slightly down compared to last year, but our drinks offering was buoyed by the inclusion of Clarkson’s Hawkstone to our bar. Overall, I was very happy with our performance.”
