The research reveals that average on premise sales from last Wednesday to Sunday (1-5 June) were 5% higher than the average for the equivalent period over the previous 12 weeks. However, after uplifts of 47% on Wednesday, 54% on Thursday and 7% on Friday, sales dropped by 20% and 22% on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Jonathan Jones, managing director of CGA UK and Ireland, said: “It was very much a Jubilee holiday of two halves for operators and suppliers, with an early upswing followed by a tough weekend. It suggests excitement about the extra Bank Holidays but a desire to mark the occasion at home and within local communities. It’s not the major boost to trading that some had hoped for, but it does show that pubs, bars and restaurants remain a key part of celebratory occasions.”
CGA’s data shows food sales increased by 8% over the five-day period, while drinks sales achieved a 3% uplift. Despite Jubilee celebrations being centred on London, the sales uplift in the capital was below the UK average at 1%.