Hospitality Business Tracker July 2026

• Football and sunshine carry pubs to 4.2% growth 
• Restaurants down 1.0% year-on-year, bars slip 5.0% 
• Hospitality enjoys best month of the year but growth lags inflation 

England’s long run in the football World Cup helped Britain’s managed pub groups to solid sales growth in July, the new NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals. 

The Tracker – produced by NIQ, powered by CGA intelligence, in association with RSM – shows pubs’ like-for-like sales were up by 4.2% from the same month in 2025. Footfall was boosted by five big games for England during July, plus semi-final and the final, which sent fans flocking to pubs from hours before kick-offs. It was comfortably the highest growth recorded by the Tracker for pubs this year. 

NIQ’s separate daily trading data shows how average drinks sales nearly doubled on the day of England’s semi-final with Argentina (Wednesday 15 July), with big spikes on several other matchdays. Pubs also benefited from long periods of hot weather in Britain, which packed beer gardens and terraces throughout July. 

However, while the World Cup was a big plus for many pubs, it did little for hospitality venues that didn’t screen games. Restaurant groups’ sales fell by 1.0% year-on-year, following a 0.7% drop in June, as some consumers chose to drink out rather than eat out. Sales slipped by 5.0% for both bar groups and the on-the-go sector.

Across hospitality as a whole, managed groups recorded year-on-year growth of 1.4% in July. It represents the strongest month of 2026 so far, and the third-best result in the Tracker since the start of 2025. Nevertheless, growth remains below the UK’s rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index. Hospitality has not secured real-terms LFL monthly growth since April 2025. 

July’s results were notably stronger when new openings are factored in. Including venues that were launched in the last 12 months, the Tracker shows sales rose by 4.7% last month – a sign that many operators and investors remain confident enough to expand despite multiple trading headwinds.

For the fourth month in a row, trading in London ran ahead of the rest of the country in July. Groups’ like-for-like sales rose by 2.2% within the M25, and by 1.0% further afield.  

Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at NIQ, said:

“July’s figures show the popularity and special role of pubs during big national moments like the World Cup. However, it’s clear that many sales were not incremental but taken from other occasions and channels, with fans saving their cash for big games or cutting back on meals out. Similarly, while pubs with outdoor spaces benefited from July’s weather, the exceptionally high temperatures may have kept some consumers at home or led them elsewhere. We are also seeing signs of a tightening of spending in August after the end of the World Cup, and the trading environment remains difficult.”

Saxon Moseley, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM UK, said:

“Wet led pubs were the standout winner of last month’s World Cup finals, recording a significant uptick in trade at the expense of the wider hospitality industry. At a time when households remain selective about discretionary spending, people are clearly continuing to make room in their budgets for shared experiences and social occasions. For hospitality businesses, the challenge now is turning that occasional event-driven demand into regular footfall through differentiated experiences and perceived value for money. As the new Prime Minister continues to make strides in addressing the unfair tax burden on the industry and consumer confidence improves, we expect to see operators’ optimism improve as we look ahead to the latter half of 2026.”

NIQ collected sales figures directly from 123 leading managed groups for June’s edition of the NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, which provides authoritative monthly insights into Britain’s restaurant, pub and bar sales. Companies participating in the Tracker receive a fuller breakdown of trading that helps to 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, Coco di Mama, 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, Boom Battle Bar, Boston Tea Party, Boxpark, BrewDog, Burger & Lobster, Buzzworks Holdings Group, Byron, Chance and Counters, Coaching Inn Group Ltd, 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 Cricket, 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, Whitbread (Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Table Table), 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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