Britain’s pubs have secured a much-needed boost from World Cup fever, sunshine and football crowds, but the wider hospitality sector remains trapped under the weight of cautious consumers and rising costs.
New figures from the NIQ RSM hospitality business tracker show pubs were the clear winners in June, with like-for-like sales climbing 1.9% — the strongest monthly performance recorded across the sector so far this year.
The surge was fuelled by fans gathering to watch England and Scotland’s World Cup campaigns, while unusually warm weather encouraged customers to spend more time outdoors. June was also the hottest on record for the UK, according to the Met Office, giving pubs an additional lift during a difficult trading environment.
The boost is expected to continue into July after England’s run to the semi-finals generated further demand for match-day drinks, food and social gatherings.
But behind the pub revival lies a far more fragile picture for much of Britain’s hospitality industry.
Restaurant sales fell 0.7% year-on-year in June, marking the second weakest month of 2026, while bars suffered an even sharper decline, with sales plunging 5.8% as consumers cut back on discretionary spending.
Across the sector as a whole, sales edged up just 0.2%, highlighting how dependent hospitality businesses have become on major events and favourable weather to drive growth.
Karl Chessell, director for hospitality operators and food at NIQ, said the first half of the year had delivered only “modest” progress, with genuine growth remaining difficult to achieve.
“The combination of the World Cup and sunshine was a boost to pubs,” he said, warning that restaurants continued to face mounting pressures from higher operating costs.
Saxon Moseley, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM UK, said the contrasting fortunes showed the uneven recovery across the sector.
“Good news for one segment of the hospitality market invariably means others coming under pressure,” he said.
Industry leaders are now looking to Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s promised business rates reforms for relief, hoping lower costs and stronger consumer spending can provide a more sustainable recovery once the football crowds disappear.
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