Poor weather throughout May saw sales across the UK hospitality sector drop 1 percent year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, despite businesses doing their best to make the most of two bank holiday weekends.

The latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker has revealed that inclement weather throughout May saw sales across the UK hospitality sector drop 1 percent year-on-year – a stark decline after growth of 4.2 percent the prior month.

Sales at restaurants fell 2.5 percent and sales at bars were down 5.1 percent, however there was optimism among pub operators, with sales at pubs up 0.5 percent thanks in part to increased trading over the two bank holiday weekends.

“May’s Tracker numbers extend the pattern of a reasonable 2025 for pub operators but a challenging one for restaurants and bars,” said Karl Chessell, CGA by NIQ’s director of hospitality operators and food, EMEA. “They are particularly concerning in the context of major increases in staff costs from April.” 

“The Chancellor’s recent spending review brought little to reduce the heavy burden on hospitality businesses. Groups will be hoping for better weather to loosen consumers’ spending in the crucial Summer months, but the trading environment is going to remain very challenging for the foreseeable future.”

Sales registered through the Tracker have now been negative for three of the first five months of this year, and though total sales across all channels for May were up 1.6 percent on 2024, the figure is below inflation.

Commenting on the Tracker’s findings, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM UK, Saxon Moseley, said:  “We are seeing a number of operators actively looking to expand internationally where trading conditions are more favourable.”

“Unless these challenges ease over the summer, this could lead to less domestic investment and longer term stagnation for the UK high street.”