Figures from the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker have revealed that hospitality sales for July were down 0.1 percent year-on-year, the fifth month of 2025 in which comparison has either been static or negative.

Pubs enjoyed the greatest increase in like-for-like sales, with totals up 0.6 percent, and though managed restaurants saw sales jump by just 0.2 percent, the increase is the first year-on-year rise since December 2024.

“The summer has brought little respite from the intense trading challenges facing hospitality, and real-terms growth is elusive,” said CGA’s Karl Chessell.

“Pubs can be more satisfied than restaurant groups, which have had to work very hard to sustain footfall and cope with more sharp rises in the costs of labour and food. Solid growth in total sales shows operators and investors remain confident enough to open new sites, though if trading patterns continue, they will be forced to make some difficult decisions on spending.”

On a year-on-year basis, monthly bar sales were down 4.3 percent on 2024, and the on-the-go segment declined 4.5 percent.“The sector remains resilient and can turn round recent trends but needs an upturn in consumers’ spending confidence,” added Chessell.

And quite a lot of tax breaks.