Friday Five: the week's top news
This week's main hospitality news stories include the reopening of indoor trading, more expansion for Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, and the return of the Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards
- Sales at Britain’s restaurants, pubs and bars
were up by a quarter on pre-Covid levels as consumers returned for the first day of indoor service on Monday (17 May). Data from CGA shows that reopened managed venues’ average sales were 24.9% higher than on the equivalent Monday in May 2019. Food sales jumped 29.6% as consumers took advantage of the opportunity to eat inside again for the first time this year in England and Wales, while drinks sales were up by 21.2%. These latest figures follow recent CGA data indicating strong sales for pubs, bars and restaurants over the first fortnight of outside-only service from 12 April, but more difficult trading conditions amid poor weather in early May. CGA’s Market Recovery Monitor with AlixPartners has indicated that only around a third (32.9%) of Britain’s licensed premises were able to trade in April, meaning the majority did not reopen until this week.