Restaurants and pubs saw their collective like-for-like sales up 2.2 per cent on September last year. Total sales, with include the effects of new site openings, were up 5.2 per cent on the previous year. Pubs in London and restaurants outside the M25 performed best.
The data showed that drink-led pubs and bars outside London performed the worst, with their like-for-like sales flat in September.
Vice president of CGA Peach Peter Martin said: “Although the better-than-expected late summer weather helped the market, we are also seeing steady, consistent growth in eating and drinking out, which now stretches back 18 months.
“Looking at the underlying trend, the 28 companies in the tracker sample together recorded year-on-year sales for the 12 months to the end of September 2.7% up on 2013.”
Rise in casual dining
The data also showed that casual dining chains were a key driver for growth outside the UK capital.
“Total sales for the restaurant groups in the sample grew 11.6% outside the M25, buoyed by continuing brand roll-outs,” said Martin.
“Like-for-like performance is also improving as chains revamp existing sites and are more willing to shed poorer sites.”
Consumer confidence
The results of the Peach BrandTrack consumer survey showed eating out frequency stayed healthy, with 42 per cent of the UK adult population eating out at least once a week.
Managing director of Coffer Corporate Leisure Mark Sheehan said: "These figures are a further demonstration of strength in the eating and drinking out sector and reflect both the improving economy and the gradual habitual change to drink and dine out more often.”