A total of 20,832 venues were trading again by Thursday 15 April including four in ten of England’s food pubs and 29.9% of high street pubs. Fewer than one in eight (11.8%) sites in the independent-led restaurant segment have opened, though casual dining restaurants (23.5%) have been quicker to return.
By region, openings have been spread quite evenly across the country, reaching a high of 24.4% in the Central and East, and a low of 21.8% in North England. All licensed premises in Scotland and Wales remain closed until later this month.
Karl Chessell, CGA’s business unit director - hospitality operators and food, EMEA, said: “The return of outdoor service is a welcome first step on the road to recovery for England’s hospitality sector, and for pubs in particular. Venues that have been able to open have worked hard to give people the eating and drinking out experiences they have missed for so long, but they remain subject to major operational constraints and the unpredictability of the British Spring weather.
“Three in four venues in England remain closed, and while some may open over the next few weeks, we will have to wait another four weeks until it is feasible for many hospitality venues to reopen again. Until then, operators deserve support from local authorities to make the most of outdoor trading space—not to mention some sunshine.”