by Abby Henson | Dec 4, 2025 | Sales Figures
The latest figures from S4labour reveal a steady performance for UK hospitality in November 2025, with overall like-for-like sales up 0.9% year-on-year.
London continued to lead the way, posting a 6.7% uplift compared to November 2024, while non-London regions saw a decline of 1.2%, underlining tougher trading conditions outside the capital.
Wet-led venues delivered the strongest growth, with sales up 1.4% year-on-year. Dry-led sites also saw a modest increase of 0.6%, reflecting more cautious consumer spending on food.
Richard Hartley, Chief Growth Officer at S4labour, commented:
“After a buoyant month in October (+5.4%), November is much more modest with the majority of businesses in decline. Following the recent budget announcement this level of sales is a concern for many operators.”
by Abby Henson | Dec 2, 2025 | Blogs
Operational excellence isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the backbone of successful hospitality businesses. From managing peak-season chaos to driving sales and creating memorable guest experiences, strong operational habits make the difference. Based on insights from our recent webinar, here are 12 habits that will help you boost efficiency, improve team morale, and grow revenue.
1. Communicate Clearly and Often
Use workforce tools and daily briefs to keep your team aligned. Clear communication reduces mistakes and empowers staff to deliver great service.
2. Plan Labour Strategically
Avoid the “throw everyone on the rota” trap. Overstaffing eats into profit, while understaffing hurts service. Balance is key.
3. Make Work Enjoyable
Happy teams create happy guests. Small gestures—meals, treats, recognition—go a long way in building morale.
4. Manage Admin Proactively
Stay on top of pre-orders and upsells. Spread admin tasks throughout the week to avoid bottlenecks and missed opportunities.
5. Say “Yes” to Sales Opportunities
Every phone call or walk-in is potential revenue. Train your team to maximise covers and upsell where possible.
6. Plan Shifts in Advance
Allocate roles when writing rotas. Put your best people in the right positions to optimise service and sales.
7. Elevate Guest Experience
First impressions matter—smiles, greetings, and personal touches create loyalty and repeat business.
8. Collect Feedback and Act on It
Encourage reviews and use insights to improve. Feedback also fuels marketing and bounce-back campaigns.
9. Prepare Your Bounce-Back Strategy
Plan January offers during December. Use creative tactics like mystery discounts or loyalty envelopes to drive post-holiday traffic.
10. Incentivise Upselling
Upselling boosts revenue, tips, and guest experience. Make it fun with team challenges and rewards.
11. Control Wastage
Monitor stock levels and portion sizes. Overordering and careless habits can erode margins quickly.
12. Start Where You Plan to Finish
Plan January rotas early and communicate holiday policies upfront. This ensures smooth operations and avoids surprises.
Operational Excellence Programme
Join 100s of operators and work with our team of experts to understand missed opportunities, reach beyond current practices, and align your tech with your unique business goals.
by Abby Henson | Nov 7, 2025 | Sales Figures
The latest sales figures from S4labour reveal a strong rebound for UK hospitality in October 2025, with overall sales up 5.4% year-on-year. London once again led the way, recording an impressive 11.1% uplift compared to the same month last year, while non-London regions experienced growth of 3.3%.
Wet-led venues were the standout performers, with sales rising 11.2% year-on-year across the UK. Food-led sites also saw positive momentum, with sales up 2.4% compared to October 2024.
Richard Hartley, Chief Growth Officer at S4labour, commented:
“After a quiet September, these numbers will be pleasing for operators and provide welcome reassurance as they gear up for the festive period. The gradual return of office workers continues to support city centre locations, helping them to outperform.”
by Abby Henson | Oct 6, 2025 | Sales Figures
The latest sales figures from S4labour reveal a mixed picture for UK hospitality in September 2025, with overall sales down just 0.1% year-on-year. London continues to lead the way, with a 7.9% increase in like-for-like sales compared to the same month last year. In contrast, non-London regions saw a decline of 2.7%.
Food-led venues in London saw an increase of 4.8% compared to a 4% decline outside the capital. Wet-led venues in London saw a strong uplift, with sales rising 11.9% year-on-year. In contrast, non-London wet-led sites experienced only marginal growth, up just 0.5%.
Richard Hartley, Chief Growth Officer at S4labour, commented: “Since April, the industry has largely managed to absorb rising operating costs, buoyed by strong sales during a warm and sunny summer. However, September’s dull and rainy conditions marked a turning point, with many operators experiencing pressure on both top-line revenue and bottom-line profitability.”
by Abby Henson | Sep 15, 2025 | Sales Figures
The latest figures from S4labour show a 2.9% increase in hospitality sales in August 2025 compared to the same period last year, with London once again driving the uplift. The capital saw a standout 10.5% rise in like-for-like sales, while non-London regions recorded a modest increase of 0.9%.
Dry-led venues across the UK were up 2.4%, with London dry-led sites outperforming at 9.2% growth. Outside the capital, dry-led venues saw a smaller uplift of 1.1%. Wet-led sites experienced a 4.2% increase overall, with London wet-led venues surging by 12.1%, compared to a marginal 0.4% rise in non-London areas.
Richard Hartley, Chief Growth Officer at S4labour, commented:
“London’s strong performance this August was likely boosted by the warmer, more settled weather compared to last year, which encouraged greater footfall across both wet-led and dry-led venues. However, ongoing cost pressures and more cautious consumer spending continue to temper growth outside the capital.”
