Managed pub sales erased in November as Covid restrictions take their toll

Group restaurants performed slightly better, with some relying on their deliveries but still suffering a 65.9% drop in shop sales in the 2019 comparable period.

Overall turnover in the pubs managed by the restaurant chain decreased by 85 per cent.

For the entire market, cumulative sales were 79% down on the November 2019 level.

In England, the lockdown, which closed all licensed establishments, became effective on 5 November and has continued throughout the month.

By the last week of November, only 6% of UK pubs and restaurants were trading, with weekly sales across the business falling by 88%, and trade running in alcohol-laden websites practically non-existent, due to the limited opening rules allowed in Scotland and Wales.

Karl Chessold, director at the CGA, which includes the Coffer Group and RSM, said: "November was a wipe out for the sector, and came on the back of difficult trading in both September and October as the rollout of more regional Covid-19 restrictions depressed sales."

At the end of November, underlying year-over-year comparable sales across the entire market have been 43.7 per cent lower than in the previous 12 months.