UK hospitality like-for-like sales rise 2.7% in September, strongest growth of 2026, NIQ says
NIQ•Managed UK hospitality groups’ like-for-like sales rose 2.7% year over year in September 2026, the strongest growth of the year, up from 0.8% in August. Total sales rose 6.2%, while restaurant sales increased 2.6%, pub sales grew 3.8% and bar sales fell 1.7%.
1. Sales growth accelerates
Managed UK hospitality groups’ like-for-like sales rose 2.7% year over year in September 2026, their strongest growth this year, compared with 0.8% in August. Growth remained below UK inflation, extending the sector’s lack of real-terms growth since spring 2025.
2. Results by venue type
Restaurant sales increased 2.6%, their best performance since November 2024, while pub sales grew 3.8%, outpacing inflation. Bar sales fell 1.7% year over year, their strongest like-for-like performance since the start of 2025. Total sales, including venues opened in the previous 12 months, rose 6.2% as new openings boosted growth.
