by Abby Henson | Feb 6, 2026 | Sales Figures
The latest figures from S4labour show another encouraging month for UK hospitality, with overall like for like sales up 5.5% in January compared to the same period last year.
This builds on the momentum seen in December, when sales rose 3.4%. London delivered another strong month of trading, with an 8.3% uplift in like for like sales. Trading outside the capital also remained firmly positive, with non London regions reporting a 4.5% increase year on year.
Richard Hartley, chief growth officer at S4labour, said the figures point to sustained consumer demand as operators move through the early part of the year, despite the well known challenges that typically accompany the post Christmas trading period. He added:
“January like-for-like sales are always a good litmus test of consumer confidence and these numbers are encouraging. Those with a keen eye will be aware there is an additional Saturday in this year’s numbers, which will have inflated the position slightly, but nonetheless, operators should be buoyed by these numbers.”
by Abby Henson | Jan 5, 2026 | Sales Figures
The latest figures from S4labour show a strong finish to the year for UK hospitality, with overall like‑for‑like sales up 3.4% in December 2025. This marks a significant improvement on the 0.1% like-for-like increase recorded in December 2024 and builds on the 0.9% uplift seen in November, indicating growing momentum across the sector.
London once again outperformed the rest of the country, delivering a 10.5% rise in like‑for‑like sales compared to December last year. Trading outside the capital also remained positive, with non‑London regions reporting a 1.2% increase.
Dry‑led venues recorded a 3.5% uplift year‑on‑year, and wet‑led sites saw sales rise 3.3%, reflecting consistent spending across pubs and bars during the Christmas period.
Richard Hartley, Chief Growth Officer at S4labour, commented: “Consumer’s appear to have saved for the festive season which will have been a welcome relief to operators. However, we start a new year with government’s cost pressures on the horizon and the quietest time of year to navigate – hopefully it won’t be too quiet.”
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 | 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.”
