Operators have told M&C Report that Christmas and New Year trading was strong for 2014 while early figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker showed collective like-for-like sales up 3.3% on last year.
Loungers, reported record sales in the month in December as net sales for the calendar month exceeded £5m. The group posted a 47.8% increase in year-on-year sales to £5.12m in a period which saw like-for-like sales increase by 3.5%. The group’s eight Cosy Club sites accounted for just over 30% of group sales in December. Loungers has also reported that like-for-like sales for the week ending 4t January were up 11.8% with sales on New Years Day significantly up by 22.7% like-for-like.
Loungers’ newly appointed managing director, Nick Collins, said: “We once again enjoyed a really excellent festive period with good like-for-like growth and a tremendous increase in revenue. In addition to the Cosy Clubs having a stellar month many sites set new individual sales records along the way and we saw a really strong performance across the board from the 15 sites we opened in 2014.”
Luminar said it had experienced a positive festive trading period generally, with the week before Christmas particularly strong. New Year’s Eve was 9% up on the previous year, with a marked increase in online pre-sold sales, which were up 32%. The company put this down largely to the success of its UKCN app, with over 50% of pre-sold sales from a mobile device.
Richard Morris, managing director at the 21-strong Tortillla, said December trading for the group was strong. He said: “We maintained great LFL growth (circa 7%) with our new sites performing strongly also. Considering we would not necessarily see ourselves as a “Christmas” offer, we are pretty happy with our performance. We go into 2015 feeling excited but also accepting that after such an outstanding 2014, we should temper our expectations. We remain confident with regard to our LFL growth and excited about our pipeline of new locations.”
Steve Locke, co-founder of Be At One, said: “We had a great month of trade. Having opened four new sites in the last 12 months our group sales were up 30% to just over £2.6m for the five weeks to 28th December. Most pleasingly our LFLs were 15%.
Ben Fordham, founder of Benito’s Hat, said: “Trade for us over the period was really positive. The west end felt very vibrant and that was reflected in great sales at our west end restaurants. Kings Cross was also very busy apart from the disaster that was the extended rail works on 27 December! Overall we were about 30% up lfl.”
Andrew Buchanan, director of pub operations at Thwaites, said: “The trend was very much in line with what we expected. Our wet-led pubs were flat and the best performances were in our Inns of Character division.
“What was notable was the difference between those pubs where we have worked on their food offer and our wet-led pubs. We also saw exceptional performances in our pubs that have accommodation. It seems that the more strings you have to your bow the more you have to play.”
Buchanan said the company would attempt to boost New Year sales by taking part in Try January and was also rolling out its Crafty Dan craft keg range.
Peter Furness-Smith, managing director of McMullens, said: “We have had an encouraging Christmas trading period this year with overall sales in our managed pubs and bars up 8% on last year. Comparable houses performed well overall with sales up 5% (food up 6% and liquor up 3%). Sales in our eight pubs operated under our Pub Operator’s Agreement were up a commendable 17% on last year which is good news for both the independent operator as well as McMullens.”
James Baer, managing director of Amber Taverns, said: “Overall a satisfactory Christmas, and December will prove to be a record month for the Company in terms of sales.
“Christmas started later, as Mad Friday did not see as many people break up as 2013 but this week has been strong and we had a busy New Year’s Day , thanks in large part to a good programme of televised football .
“We have a range of promotions planned for the coming weeks but as ever weather and football are the key drivers for the business.”
Adam Marshall, chief executive of Grand Union, said: “Christmas was hugely successful at Grand Union this year, with bookings up significantly up on last year, an additional 3,700 pax booked in over the December period. This equated into a 9% increase in sales for the month of December. NYE, GU ran ticketed special nights in all venues, with events selling out in advance, an increase of 500 additional tickets being pre-sold this year.”
La Tasca reported that like-for-like sales for the six week trading period from 24 November to 4 January were up by 7.4%, with the company reporting its highest ever sales day in its 21-year history on Saturday 29 November. Chief executive Simon Wilkinson said: “Seven sites had their highest ever sales day during the period and New Year’s Eve saw like-for-like sales up 8.3% compared to 2013, with the prior year up 12.3%. Saturday 20 December was up by 14.7%, with the prior year up 19.2%. It was a very strong performance.”
Draft House reported that like-for-likes were up by 8.8% across its estate in December.
Nigel Wright, chief operating officer at TCG, said: “Trading this Christmas has definitely been a marathon rather than a sprint, with the first festive bookings being in late November.
“The traditional ‘Mad Friday’, falling on 19 December, wasn’t quite as mad as in previous years, apart from in some northern strongholds, as it was still six days ahead of Christmas Day. We have also found that customers who had booked extended holidays through from that Friday to after the New Year have been spreading their spending across the entire festive period with sales still strong right up to this weekend as the public are out and about in the sunny weather.
“Pre-booked Christmas parties and functions were also ahead of last year but I believe drinks spend per head on the actual occasions may have been lower.
“However, once people were home for a week or so, there was plenty of festive celebrating, which meant that we saw strong drink sales in our local and community pubs as customers got together with friends and family. Record sales come from many houses including the Fatling in Hornchurch, the Golden Fleece in Chelmsford, the Hare & Hounds in Liverpool and the George Staples in Sidcup.
“There was also plenty of footfall in shopping areas, with tourists packing our West End venues in London over the Christmas/New Year period itself and Bar 38 in Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth also seeing record numbers as shoppers took a break to eat and drink.
“After such a busy elongated trading period, customers will be looking towards their first paycheck at the end of the month and pockets will be tight so footfall will be limited in January. However there are some great sports fixtures and tourists continue to hold up the London market. We have a range of food and drink deals, each offering some relative value to each of our types of outlet and suitable for those who are out and about. But history has taught us not to go down the deep discounting route shown by some of our competitors.”
