Pubs ‘n’ Bars sees sales stall over Christmas period

Community pub operator Pubs ‘n’ Bars today warned that like-for-like revenue during the crucial Christmas period fell 0.4%, compared to 2007.

In “very difficult trading conditions”, revenue for the last quarter of 2008 at the 100-plus strong pub estate was 2.3% lower than compared with 2007.

Chief executive Mel Belligero said that the licensed trade faced many obstacles apart from the recession, including smoking ban, supermarket cut price sales of alcohol and duty increases.

“The directors do, nevertheless, remain confident that running convivial, traditional, non-fashion dependent pubs will prove to be a resilient business with good growth prospects over the longer term,” he added.

High street pub operator JD Wetherspoon today revealed that its Like-for-like sales over the Christmas period (12 weeks to 18 January) had increased 2.6%.

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By Chris Druce

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