Britain’s managed pub groups got a modest boost from early World Cup matches in June while other segments struggled for growth, the latest 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 1.9% year-on-year, making June their best month of the year so far. As well as welcoming England and Scotland fans to watch group-stage games, pubs benefited from periods of warm weather in many parts of the country.

However, other hospitality channels found it harder to generate footfall, as many consumers set aside spending for the World Cup or stayed at home. Restaurant groups’ sales were down by 0.7% year-on-year, making June their second-worst month of 2026. Bar groups’ sales dropped by 5.8% to extend a long run of negative numbers.

The net result for hospitality was a virtually flat June, with sector-wide sales rising just 0.2% ahead of last year. Growth hovered less than one percentage point either side of flat throughout the first half of 2026, and it has now been below the UK’s rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index, for 14 straight months.

It was a brighter June for hospitality groups on a total sales basis, the NIQ RSM Hospitality Business Tracker shows. Adding in venues that have been opened in the last 12 months, sales rose by 3.8% in June — fractionally ahead of inflation.

For the third month in a row, trading in London was slightly ahead of the rest of the country. Groups’ like-for-like sales rose by 1.0% within the M25 but were exactly flat beyond the M25.

Saxon Moseley, Head of Leisure and Hospitality at RSM UK, said: “Wet led pubs were the real winners of the World Cup with strong like-for-like growth bolstered by the hot weather, underscoring the importance of experience-led spending in the current climate. RSM's latest Consumer Outlook highlights that discretionary spending remains constrained and highly selective. Good news for one segment of the hospitality market invariably means others coming under pressure, with restaurants, bars and on-the-go outlets all losing ground in June. As we look ahead to the second half of the year, operators will be hoping that Andy Burnham delivers on his promise to reform business rates and put more cash in consumers' pockets."

Karl Chessell, Director - Hospitality Operators and Food, EMEA at NIQ, said: “June’s numbers complete a modest first half of the year for hospitality in which any real-terms growth was very hard-earned. The combination of the World Cup and sunshine was a boost to pubs, and we can expect strong July results after England’s progress in the tournament. However, big events and the heat tend to work less well for restaurants, who are besieged by high costs at the moment. It’s encouraging to see topline growth, which indicates that operators and investors have enough long-term confidence to open new premises.

NIQ collected sales figures directly from 121 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, , Camerons Brewery, 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,G erman 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, 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 NIQ

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