Wed 28th May 2025 - Managed like-for-likes up 4.2% in April as pub sales soar but restaurants and bars flag Managed like-for-likes up 4.2% in April as pub sales soar but restaurants and bars flag: Britain’s managed groups saw like-for-likes grow 4.2% in April as sunshine and Easter boosted pub sales but restaurants and bars flagged, according to the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker. Following a month of warm weather, pubs saw like-for-like sales growth of 9.1%. However, some of the growth was at the expense of restaurants, where sales fell 0.9% year-on-year. Bars continued a long run of negative numbers, with trading down 4.5%. The 4.2% overall growth – comfortably beating the UK’s recent rates of inflation, as measured by the consumer prices index – represented a strong start to the second quarter of 2025 after year-on-year drops of 1.3% and 0.6% in January and March and growth of just 0.1% in February. April’s comparison was slightly inflated by the long Easter weekend, which fell in March last year. Total sales – including at venues opened by groups in the last 12 months – were 6.8% ahead of April 2024.The tracker, produced by CGA by NIQ in partnership with RSM UK, shows trading outside the M25 was significantly better than in London. Groups’ sales inside the M25 were ahead by 0.9% year-on-year, but further afield they rose by 5.5%. Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at CGA by NIQ, said: “After a tough few months for hospitality, the warm weather has given managed pubs a very bright start to the second quarter. It is hopefully a sign that some consumers are spending a little more freely, though a disappointing month for restaurants suggests others were simply switching from eating out to drinking out. Ongoing high costs for operators, including through heavy new labour bills from April, continue to pile pressure on margins – but while the sun continues to shine, pubs with outdoor spaces can expect trade to remain strong.”