Tough first half for hospitality groups as mixed weather flattens June sales: Britain’s leading pub, bar and restaurant groups finished a soft first half of trading with sales exactly level year-on-year in June, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. It follows a drop of 1.0% in May and means sales were static or negative in four of the first six months of 2025, with a warm April the only period to deliver real-terms growth. June trading was affected by mixed weather and tough comparatives with the same month last year, when the Euro 2024 men’s football tournament was underway. For the sixth month in a row, pubs achieved the best growth of the major segments of hospitality. Managed pub groups’ like-for-like sales were 1.2% above June 2024, while restaurants saw trading slip fractionally by 0.5%. Bars continued a long run of negative numbers with a year-on-year dip of 5.7%, and the on-the-go segment slipped by 4%. The Tracker showed groups’ June sales within the M25 were down by 1% year-on-year, while sales further afield rose marginally by 0.4%. It means trading in London lagged the rest of the country for five of the first six months of 2025. Groups’ total sales through all channels, including at venues opened by groups in the last 12 months, were 2.8% ahead of the same month in 2024 – slightly below the UK’s rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index. Karl Chessell, director hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ, said: “June’s numbers round out a tough first half for hospitality groups. They have had to deal with the dual challenges of fragile consumer confidence and a hike in labour costs from April, and with inflation ticking up again, the second half of 2025 may be just as challenging. Nevertheless, there are some encouraging pockets of growth, especially in pubs, where people seem to be spending with a little more confidence. Operators will be hoping the rest of the Summer brings some brighter weather to help lift the sector back into growth.”

Majority of consumers would choose to visit venues offering ‘elevated experience’ such as tasting menus and games: The majority of consumers would choose to visit venues offering an ‘elevated experience’ such as tasting menus and games, according to the new GO Technology report from hospitality tech provider Zonal, in partnership with CGA by NIQ. The report reveals how hospitality operators can attract and retain guests by building their offering beyond just food and drink, as 74% of consumers say they would visit a venue that provides an elevated experience. In terms of the types of experiences that consumers would visit a venue for, the most popular are tasting menus (31%), games (25%), bottomless brunches (24%), a surprise from the venue (24%) and a well-curated atmosphere (23%). Others pointed to attentive staff who remember them (19%), exclusive or limited-edition food (19%), personalised visits (14%), drinks masterclasses (13%) and cookery classes (12%). Furthermore, nearly half (49%) of diners prefer full-service restaurants when seeking something extra special. This demand is driven by a desire to try new experiences (42%), enjoy a personal treat (38%), take part in engaging group activities (38%) and create lasting memories (31%). Consumers’ interest in elevated experiences also extends to higher-tempo venues, such as bars (33%), drink-led pubs (23%) and nightclubs (13%). Tim Chapman, chief commercial officer at Zonal, said: “This new research makes it clear that offering consumers an experience that goes beyond just a meal will boost bookings, drive personal recommendations, increase return visits, and build loyalty. It is, therefore, key to success. While there are many and varied ways of delivering such experiences, this insight shows that food still leads the way. However, other popular ideas show that getting the fundamentals of hospitality right remains vital.” Karl Chessell, CGA’s business unit director – hospitality operators and food EMEA, added: “Patchy consumer confidence and rising costs have made for a tough first half of 2025 in hospitality, but it remains a vital and much-loved part of consumers’ lives. In this challenging environment, elevating people’s experiences out of the ordinary is one of the best ways to loosen their spending 

Generation Z leading lunchtime revolution as social dining replaces eating at the desk: Generation Z workers are leading a lunchtime revolution which is seeing social dining replace eating at the desk, according to Just Eat for Business’ new More than a Meal report. The study, in partnership workplace psychologist Dr Audrey Tang, followed a survey of more than 2,000 British workers, found that 56% of Generation Z take their full lunch break, compared to just 36% of Generation X and 22% of Baby Boomers. “This marks a decisive shift toward establishing healthier work-life boundaries, prioritising wellbeing in a way that previous generations failed to recognise,” the report said. More than half (58%) of office workers now say they'd rather catch up with colleagues over lunch than socialise after work, with Just Eat for Business data showing orders for buffets and platters jumped 42% in 2024, with pizza orders soaring by 37%. Generation Z is also leading the lunchtime social scene, with 66% dining with co-workers at least once a week, outpacing Millennials (55%) and Generation X (36%). The city with the highest percentage of workers likely to take their full lunch break is Plymouth (63%), with just over half of Londoners (53%) doing so, and Birmingham workers (33%) the least likely. The report concludes that “food as a culture” in the workplace will continue to rise, that hybrid working patterns will continue to reshape lunch culture, and that health and wellness will continue to drive food choices in the workplace. Matt Ephgrave, managing director at Just Eat for Business, said: “We’re seeing a significant shift in lunch break habits, moving away from hurried, isolated desk dining toward intentional moments of rest and social connection. While remote work offers flexibility, it's equally important to make sure daily, informal interactions like sharing a meal with colleagues is encouraged when people are in the office. These shared interactions play a vital role in fostering workplace camaraderie and mental wellbeing. This simple yet powerful ritual remains a key ingredient in building stronger teams and boosting overall job satisfaction.”