UK Pub Visits Rise as Drinking Volumes Fall

Visits to pubs, bars and restaurants in the United Kingdom rose in March even as drinking volumes fell, according to new data from The Oxford Partnership, a market intelligence company that tracks the on-trade.

Average occupancy in March reached 65.4%, up 1.1% from the same month a year earlier. The average length of a visit also increased, rising 3.4% to 153 minutes. For the year to date, occupancy is up 3.6% and dwell time is up 2.3% compared with 2025.

But the stronger foot traffic did not translate into higher alcohol sales. Overall sales volumes were down 2% in March compared with March 2025. On a moving annual total basis, core lager fell 5.8%, and March’s year-on-year result for that category showed a similar decline. Stout moved in the opposite direction, rising 5.8% over the same period.

The number of venues operating in the UK also continued to shrink. The Oxford Partnership said there were 99,789 venues open in March, down from 101,171 in March last year.

Spending per visit rose to £26.91 in March, driven mainly by food. Food spend per head increased to £32.12 from £30.86 a year earlier. Drinks spend per head also rose, but more slowly, to £21.28 from £20.89.

The Oxford Partnership said the market had improved month by month but had not fully recovered. In its report, the company said engagement metrics were strong and spending continued to rise, but that drinking intensity still lagged behind earlier levels.

The figures point to a pattern that has become familiar across Britain’s hospitality sector: consumers are returning to venues and staying longer, but they are not drinking as much as before, even as food sales help support overall spending.