Dismal weather and cautious spending stunted managed hospitality groups’ growth in February, the latest NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

The Tracker—produced by NIQ, powered by CGA intelligence, in association with RSM—indicates a 0.2% fall in like-for-like sales compared to February 2025. It extends a flat 2026 for hospitality after a 0.1% drop in January.

Venues’ trading in February was held down by dull and wet weather in many parts of Britain, with Met Office figures showing England received 42% more rainfall than the long-term average for the month. Some consumers were also kept at home by concerns about their disposable incomes amid rising prices and economic uncertainty. These negatives outweighed modest boosts in February from Valentine’s Day and the Six Nations rugby tournament.

Pubs in growth but restaurants down

The NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker shows pub groups outperformed restaurants for the 15th successive month. They grew like-for-like sales by 1.0%, which also marks a 13th positive month in a row for this channel—though it has risen above 4% only twice.

Restaurants found it harder to stimulate consumer spending in February, with sales dropping 1.1% year-on-year. Among other channels, bars experienced another difficult month as trading falling by 4.1%. Comparisons fell even further behind in the on-the-go segment, as sales slipped by 5.0%.

New openings keep growth up with inflation

While like-for-like sales dipped overall, new openings helped managed groups to haul growth roughly in line with the country’s headline rate of inflation in February. On a total sales basis—including at venues launched by hospitality groups in the last 12 months—growth rose to 2.9%. However, with inflation running higher over that period in key cost areas like food, drink and labour, profit growth remains difficult.

Meanwhile the Tracker’s regional breakdown of sales indicates an almost identical month in London and beyond. Like-for-like sales were down by 0.1% within the M25, and by 0.3% further afield.

Saxon Moseley, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM UK, said: “Real term growth eluded operators in February as the sector continued to struggle with poor weather and muted consumer confidence, extending a subdued start to 2026. Against this backdrop, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East present a real threat to the hospitality industry. 2022’s energy crisis tells us that consumer confidence can freefall quickly and be slow to recover. If the situation continues, we could see input costs increase across food, logistics and utilities, presenting potential headwinds of higher costs and a further slowdown in demand later this year.”

Karl Chessell, director - hospitality operators and food, EMEA at NIQ, said: “Flat like-for-likes and modest total growth driven by new openings have been the twin trends for hospitality for many months now. February’s figures were more of the same, and they are another reminder of how much venues rely on the weather for footfall. March brings important trading opportunities including Mother’s Day, St Patrick’s Day and the start of Easter holidays, and operators will be hoping for long-overdue sunshine to bring people out of their homes to eat and drink.”

NIQ collected sales figures directly from 119 leading managed groups for October’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), 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, Chaiiwala, 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, 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, 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, Simmons Bars Group, 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.

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