Hospitality Business Tracker September 2026
- Sector-wide sales rise 2.7% from September 2025
- Restaurants enjoy best month for nearly two years
- New openings drive growth above inflation
Hospitality groups recorded their best month of sales growth of the year so far in September, the latest NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.
Like-for-like sales at Britain’s leading managed groups were 2.7% above the levels of September 2025 according to the Tracker, which is produced by NIQ, powered by CGA intelligence, in association with RSM. It is an acceleration of growth from 0.8% in August, and a fifth straight positive month.
The latest figures raise hopes for a strong final quarter of 2026 for hospitality. However, September’s like-for-like figure remains just below the UK’s rate of inflation, and the sector has not achieved real-terms growth since Spring 2025. Business leaders continue to face difficult trading conditions and are hoping that the forthcoming Budget provides urgent relief on tax and other areas.
The Tracker shows a modest revival for managed restaurant groups extended into September, with year-on-year growth of 2.6%. This is restaurants’ best performance since November 2024 and follows a challenging first half of 2026, when many consumers tightened their spending on eating out.
At pub groups, sales growth topped inflation at 3.8%. This is pubs’ second-best month of the year behind July, when they were boosted by interest in the men’s football World Cup. September trends at bars were negative, with sales dropping 1.7% from last year, though this represents the best like-for-like performance since the start of 2025.
Sales continue to be inflated by new restaurant, pub and bar openings, the NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker shows. On a total sales basis, including from venues opened in the previous 12 months, September delivered year-on-year growth of 6.2%.
NIQ’s data also indicates that trading was slightly softer in London than elsewhere in Britain. Groups’ like-for-like sales rose by 2.3% within the M25, and by 2.8% further afield.
Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at NIQ, said:
“September’s trading figures provide hospitality with a much-needed shot of confidence. A warm start to Autumn has helped to unlock some extra spending, and restaurants will feel particularly encouraged. Nevertheless, many groups are still finding it difficult to carve out real-terms sales growth, while intense pressure on key costs like taxes, ingredients, labour and energy are making profitability even tougher. September’s trading can be a springboard for a strong Christmas and New Year for hospitality, but only if the Budget stimulates the confidence of businesses and consumers.”
Saxon Moseley, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM UK, said:
“September’s results demonstrate that the hospitality sector’s resilience is paying off. With both pubs and restaurants recording solid growth, there is real momentum building ahead of the festive season. While encouraging, these green shoots remain at the mercy of this month’s budget, which must empower, rather than hinder, the sector’s unique ability to serve as a force for good. With nearly one million young people currently not in education, employment, or training (NEET), hospitality is uniquely positioned to help solve this national crisis. To unlock this potential, the upcoming budget must boldly back the sector by reconsidering damaging National Insurance contribution policies and the proposed pay harmonisation for under-21s.”
NIQ collected sales figures directly from 117 leading managed groups for the latest edition of the NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker. The Tracker provides authoritative monthly insights into Britain’s restaurant, pub and bar sales, and participating companies receive detailed breakdowns of trading to help benchmark performance and understand market trends.
To join the cohort, contact Andrew Dean at andy.dean@nielseniq.com
Participants in the NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker: Adventure Leisure Ltd, All Star Lanes, Amber Taverns, Anglian Country Inns, Arc Inspirations, Azzurri Group (Ask Italian, Zizzi), B Bagel, Barburrito, Barworks, Beds and Bars, Big Fang Collective, Big Table Group (Banana Tree Restaurants, Bella Italia, Chiquito, Frankie & Benny’s, Las Iguanas), Bill’s Restaurants, Bleecker St Burger, Boisdale Ltd, Boston Tea Party, Boxpark, BrewDog, Burger & Lobster, Buxton Brewery, Buzzworks Holdings Group, Byron, Camerons Brewery, Chance and Counters, Coaching Inn Group Ltd, Coco di Mama, Comptoir Group Plc, Cote Restaurants, Creams Café, Darwin & Wallace, Dishoom, Evolv Collection, Five Guys, Flat Iron, Fortnum & Mason, Fuller Smith & Turner, Gaucho Grill, German Doner Kebab, Giggling Squid, Glendola Leisure, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, Greene King (Chef & Brewer, Hungry Horse, Flaming Grill), Hall & Woodhouse, Hawthorn Leisure, Heartwood Collection, Honest Burgers, HOP Vietnamese, Kibou, Kricket, Laine Pub Co, Lane 7, Liberation, Lina Stores, Loungers, Lucky Voice, Marston’s, McMullen & Sons Ltd, Megans, Mildreds, Mission Mars, Mitchells & Butlers (Harvester, Toby, Miller & Carter, All Bar One), MJMK Restaurants, Mojo Bar, Mowgli, Nando’s Restaurants, Neos Hospitality, New World Trading Company, Nightcap Plc, North Brewing Co, NQ64 Arcade Bars , Open House London, Parogon Pub Group, Pho, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut UK, Pizza Pilgrims, Popeyes, Portobello Starboard Ltd, Prezzo, Public House Group, Punch Pub Co, Rick Stein Restaurants, Riley’s, Rosa’s Thai, Roxy Leisure, San Carlo, Sandbox VR, Shepherd Neame, Signature Pubs, Simmons Bars Group, Sixes Entertainment, Southern Wind Group (Fazenda), St Austell, Star Pubs & Bars, State of Play Hospitality, Stonegate Pub Co (Slug & Lettuce, Yates’, Walkabout, Bermondsey Pub Company), Tasty Plc, TGI Fridays UK, The Alchemist, The Fulham Shore, The Restaurant Group, Thunderbird Fried Chicken, Tonkotsu, Topgolf Ltd, Tortilla, Tossed, Treetop Golf, True North Brew Co, Upham Pub Co, Urban Pubs & Bars, Urban Village Pub Co, Various Eateries (Strada, Coppa Club), Village Hotels, Wagamama, Wasabi, Wells & Co, Wingstop, Yard Sale Pizza, Yolk, YO! Sushi, Young’s and Yummy Collection.
About RSM UK
RSM UK is a leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services. As an integrated team with nearly 4,900 partners and staff operating from 31 locations across the UK, we have a culture of understanding what it means to deliver value, and to value what we do.
As part of the RSM International network, we have access to more than 57,000 people in more than 120 countries. Our global presence helps us to meet the needs of clients who are trading and expanding internationally.
To learn more, visit www.rsmuk.com.
About NIQ
NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete and trusted understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. By combining an unmatched global data footprint and granular consumer and retail measurement with decades of AI modeling expertise, NIQ builds decision systems that help companies turn complex data into confident action.
With operations in more than 90 countries, NIQ covers approximately 82% of the world’s population and more than $7.4 trillion in global consumer spend. Through cloud-based platforms, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, NIQ delivers The Full View™—helping brands and retailers understand what consumers buy, why they buy it, and what to do next.
For more information, please visit www.niq.com.
Forward Looking Statement
This press release regarding sales trends for Britain’s eating and drinking out market may contain forward-looking statements regarding anticipated consumer behaviors, market trends, and industry developments. These statements reflect current expectations and projections based on available data, historical patterns, and various assumptions. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “likely,” “may,” “poised to,”,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future outcomes and are subject to inherent uncertainties, including changes in consumer preferences, economic conditions, technological advancements, and competitive dynamics. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. While we strive to base our insights on reliable data and sound methodologies, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances, except to the extent required by applicable law.
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