The City Pub Group PLC snapping up bargains as lockdown ends

The City Pub Group PLC () said trading has been encouraging since pubs were allowed to reopen for outdoor trading.

The pubs group has 24 of its 45 pubs open at present and despite not being able to serve thirsty customers indoors, trading is at 77% of 2019 (pre-pandemic) levels, the company said in its full-year results statement.

Although the 52 weeks to December 27, 2020, was a period characterised by prolonged periods when trading was not possible, the group took the opportunity to upgrade and refurbish some of its pubs and inns. Across the estate, The City Pub Group has added more than 600 outside covers to allow them to open under the current government-imposed restrictions. Executive chairman Clive Watson said these covers would also enable the group to take advantage of the forecast trend of increased domestic holidays.

With pubs soon to be allowed to have customers indoors, management is confident that trading will get back to 2019 levels over the course of the summer, especially due to the sporting programme, which includes the European 2021 football finals, the British and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa and the return of tennis at Wimbledon.