Outdoor hospitality reopened last week on 12th April and data released from CGA shows that consumers were more than ready to make the most out of the available beer gardens and terraces.

Like-for-like sales at pubs, bars and restaurants that were trading in the seven days from re-opening were 45% higher than in the week commencing 4th July 2020 when the first national lockdown was lifted and venues were able to resume both indoor and outdoor services.

This is being seen as cautious optimism for the industry that has felt the brunt of the 800,000 jobs lost in the last 12 months; as Ruth Gregory, senior UK economist at consultancy Capital Economics stated, consumers were "in position to power the recovery as the early signs are that households are willing to go back to pubs and restaurants."

With only a small amount of licensed premises being able to open for outdoor hospitality, the industry awaits the full reopening date to see it's true recovery.