Unsettled weather made it an up-and-down April for Britain’s pubs, bars and suppliers, according to NIQ’s latest Daily Drinks Tracker.  

The Tracker, powered by CGA intelligence, shows average sales in managed venues in the week to Saturday 25 April were 4.1% ahead of the equivalent period in 2025. This positive performance coincided with a spell of warm and dry weather that brought many consumers out to pub gardens and terraces for the first time this year.

However, that encouraging week was sandwiched by negative trading. Sales in the weeks to Saturday 18 April and Saturday 2 May were down year-on-year by 4.8% and 4.3% respectively. Both these weeks featured more mixed weather, including lower than usual temperatures in some parts of Britain that may have kept people inside. 

Weekly comparisons in the Tracker are skewed by Easter, which fell early in April in 2026 but later in the month in 2025. However, the combined results suggest that taken as a whole, drinks sales were broadly flat year-on-year, with boosts from stronger days and public holidays offset by quieter periods.  

April’s bursts of sunshine created good conditions for Long Alcoholic Drinks (LAD) categories at points in April. Beer sales in the week to 25 April were 7.1% ahead of 2025, while cider rocketed 19.2% as drinkers sought refreshment. Wine was the most consistent of the major categories, with sales rising by 2.9% and 1.1% in the weeks to Saturday 25 April and Saturday 2 May. Soft drinks were down in all three of the recent weeks, though comparisons are affected by the timing of school holidays. Spirits sales dropped by between 8.9% and 15.0% in each of the three weeks, continuing an extended run of tough trading conditions. 

As well as mixed weather, April’s trading figures may reflect consumers’ ongoing uncertainty about spending. The possible impacts of ongoing uncertainty in the Middle East on energy-related prices are likely to be damaging confidence, and prompting some people to rein in their spending for their time being.  

Rachel Weller, NIQ’s Commercial Lead, UK & Ireland, said: “April is always an unpredictable month for the On-Premise, as the fast-changing weather makes it harder for consumers to plan their visits to pubs and bars. However, while overall trading is still muted, it’s clear that people remain very eager to drink out when the weather allows. Consumers and businesses alike will be concerned about future inflation, and spending is likely to remain cautious for some time. But if the sun shines, suppliers can be hopeful about the release of some pent-up demand in the On-Premise as we move towards the summer.”