Sunshine lifts beer and cider sales but April trading stays flat

Warm weather gave Britain’s pubs and bars a lift in late April, but weaker trading either side of the sunny spell left drinks sales broadly flat overall.

Britain’s managed pubs, bars and suppliers experienced an uneven April as changing weather patterns drove sharp swings in drinks sales, according to NIQ’s latest Daily Drinks Tracker powered by CGA intelligence.

Sales in managed venues were up by 4.1% year-on-year in the week to Saturday 25 April, helped by a spell of warm and dry weather that encouraged consumers into pub gardens and terraces for the first time this year.

However, this stronger performance was bookended by weaker trading periods. Sales in the weeks to Saturday 18 April and Saturday 2 May were down 4.8% and 4.3% respectively compared with the same periods in 2025. NIQ said more mixed weather conditions, including lower than usual temperatures in parts of Britain, may have discouraged visits to pubs and bars.

Easter timing distorts comparisons

Weekly year-on-year comparisons were also affected by the timing of Easter, which fell earlier in April in 2026 than in 2025.

Despite this distortion, the combined figures indicate drinks sales across the month were broadly flat overall, with gains from stronger trading days and public holidays offset by quieter weeks.

April’s sunnier periods proved particularly positive for Long Alcoholic Drinks (LAD) categories.

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Beer sales in the week to 25 April were up 7.1% on the equivalent week in 2025, while cider sales surged 19.2% as consumers looked for more refreshing options.

Wine delivered the most consistent performance among major drinks categories. Sales rose by 2.9% in the week to Saturday 25 April and by 1.1% in the week to Saturday 2 May.

By contrast, soft drinks recorded declines in all three recent weeks, though NIQ noted these comparisons were affected by school holiday timings.

Spirits remained under pressure, with sales falling by between 8.9% and 15.0% across all three weeks, extending what NIQ described as a prolonged period of difficult trading.

Consumer caution continues

NIQ suggested April’s softer results may also reflect continued caution around consumer spending.

The business said uncertainty surrounding the Middle East and its potential impact on energy-related prices could be affecting confidence and prompting some consumers to reduce discretionary spending.

Rachel Weller, NIQ’s commercial lead, UK & Ireland, said: “April is always an unpredictable month for the On-Premise, as the fast-changing weather makes it harder for consumers to plan their visits to pubs and bars. However, while overall trading is still muted, it’s clear that people remain very eager to drink out when the weather allows. Consumers and businesses alike will be concerned about future inflation, and spending is likely to remain cautious for some time. But if the sun shines, suppliers can be hopeful about the release of some pent-up demand in the on-premise as we move towards the summer.”