As COVID restrictions are still in the process of being abolished, people one might predict that the sales prediction for restaurants and pubs for this weekend’s Euro 2020 final between Italy and England could not be certain.
But the reverse is the case as a new report has been published by The Guardian, which estimates that England pubs will sell no fewer than 13 million pints on the day which the final will take place.
However, the report still factors in the fact that “strict rules” will be in place, for a lot of pubs, meaning that hosting the finals “will not be enough to rescue their struggling finances.”
According to the report, though pub crowds are normally greater by about 200% to 300% on matchdays, Coronavirus restrictions have translated to the fact that Euro 2020 sales have only been up about 60% on matchdays.
Kate Nicholls, UKHospitality’s Chief Executive Officer said:
We are seeing an uplift in drinks sales on match days but because of capacity constraints it is nowhere near as much as it would usually be.
For example, one pub in Norwich will be “full” – but the owner notes that this only means 30 customers. The owner said:
We are obviously fully booked. I’ve been turning away people for weeks who want to watch the football but social distancing and the need to be seated limits our capacity. I think everybody’s grateful to be trading again but it’s still very difficult.
Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of industry trade body UKHospitality, said:
We are seeing an uplift in drinks sales on match days but because of capacity constraints it is nowhere near as much as it would usually be.
For instance, one pub in Norwich City will be “full” – but the owner remarks that this only translates to 30 customers.
The pub owner said:
“We are obviously fully booked. I’ve been turning away people for weeks who want to watch the football but social distancing and the need to be seated limits our capacity. I think everybody’s grateful to be trading again but it’s still very difficult.”
Yet, The British Beer and Pub Association disclosed that no fewer than 13 million pints will be sold on the day that the final will take place and 7.1 million pints will be sold during the match.
The report says that the number would be likely closer to 17 million without Coronavirus restrictions.
A owner said:
It has brought people together though and pubs are the next best thing to being there.
The owner also commented that he was disenchanted with the restrictions and could have “taken a lot more” customers.
Don’t get it twisted: in the likely event that England wins the final, Coronavirus restrictions may not be able to control the crowd.
Another pub owner said:
Publicans have worked incredibly hard to abide by the rules and regulations, but whatever the rules are, people will sing and celebrate if England win.
Alistair Skitt, the owner of Lord High Admiral pub in Plymouth said:
Our main tactic has been to inform customers what is expected when they arrive, not after they have had a few.
Our staff make it very clear Covid rules are still being enforced: that customers have to wear masks when they go to the toilet, and there should be no excessive shouting and screaming at the screen, which is very difficult to enforce as I’m sure you can imagine.
