Greene King Share News (GNK)

(ShareCast News) - UK pubs and restaurants enjoyed an equal uplift in trading over the Christmas and New Year period, as a bumper six weeks for London drove a second consecutive month's improvement.Data on the largest managed pub and restaurant groups over the six weeks to January 8 found a collective 2.2% increase in like-for-like sales, according to the Coffer Peach Business Tracker index.Total sales among the 33 companies tracked were up 5.4% on the same time last year, reflecting the impact of new site openings.Both pubs and casual dining groups fared well, with branded restaurant chains seeing LFL sales jump 2.1% over the festive period, after just a 0.2% rise in November and a decline of 0.7% in October.Sales at boozers increased 2.2%, following a 1.7% rebound in November and a drop the month before, with drink-led establishments generally outperforming food-led pubs."With all the uncertainty surrounding Brexit and growing cost concerns for the industry around staffing and business rates, these results will come as a welcome relief for operating companies," said Peter Martin, vice president of CGA Peach, the research and insight consultancy that produces the tracker alongside partners Coffer Group and RSM."They also show that people are still willing and able to go out to eat and drink and enjoy themselves given the right offer and opportunity", he added.Paul Newman, head of leisure and hospitality at RSM, said that attracting transient EU workers has been key to the success and growth of the UK's hospitality sector."Theresa May's Brexit negotiation comments now make it clear that new migration rules will need to be agreed providing further uncertainty for the sector in the months ahead."The data is calculated based on sales figures from 34 larger chains owned by companies including Fuller's, Greene King, Marston's, Mitchells & Butlers, Restaurant Group, Whitbread and Young's.