The return of 'a beer after work' is driving up pub sales

Three major pub groups have said they have all reported growth in sales since the blocking was eased in July, particularly as workers return to offices with an opportunity for a 'beer after work'.

Fuller's said the sales in the seven weeks to 18 September are now 86 per cent of the levels experienced before the pandemic took hold, and City Pub Group said sales would reach 90 per cent of the 2019 level since in May its in-house business continued.

Both Mitchells and Butlers said sales for the last eight weeks have exceeded pre-pandemic levels since they began work on a comparable basis.

But despite promising signs of recovery, pubs are still struggling to recruit as vacancies across the industry remain high.

The chief executive of the City Pub Group, Clive Watson, is calling on the government to set up the temporary worker visas to cover the gaps.

City Pub Group chief executive Clive Watson said the sector had suffered because employees in the sector returned to the EU, rather than returning, during the Covid.

At Mitchells & Butls, CEO Phil Urban said pubs that serve food still do better than "wet led" pubs.