London's hospitality scene has received a significant boost as one of its major players, Urban Pubs and Bars, announces a record-breaking festive trading period. The group, which operates 66 venues across the capital, is riding high on strong sales and an aggressive expansion strategy.
Festive Cheer Drives Record Performance
The company reported an excellent like-for-like sales growth of 14.5% over the crucial Christmas period. This impressive lift was supported by a substantial 40% increase in total covers, a key metric measuring the number of orders served. Managing Director Chris Hill hailed the achievement, stating, "We've delivered our best Christmas ever. The energy across the business continues to be fantastic, and this performance is a huge credit to our teams."
This year's success builds on a similarly robust performance last year, when the group posted like-for-like growth of 16%. For the financial year ended April 2024, Urban Pubs and Bars saw turnover rise by 16% to £60.5 million.
Accelerated Expansion Across London
The record trading comes as the group rapidly scales its presence. Over the past year, Urban Pubs and Bars has acquired 13 new sites in London, with six of those secured in the current year alone. The company describes these deals as a "significant step" in its growth plan.
Recent openings in 2025 included:
- The George & Dragon in Wanstead
- The London Fields in Hackney
- A new Covent Garden site for its Bat and Ball concept
Acquisitions completed in January 2026 have further bolstered its portfolio, including The Prince Regent in Herne Hill and several Brunning & Price venues: The Roebuck and The Steam Packet in Chiswick, The Queens in Crouch End, and Coco Momo in Kensington. The group's most recent purchase was The Birdcage in east London.
Outperforming a Challenging Market
The strong results are particularly notable given the wider turbulence within the UK pub and hospitality sector. The industry faces headwinds from subdued consumer confidence due to ongoing cost-of-living pressures. Furthermore, the Labour Government's autumn budget included an increase in business rates, a move that drew widespread criticism and has led to promised further financial support measures for the sector.
Despite this challenging backdrop, Urban Pubs and Bars claims it continues to outperform the wider UK hospitality market. Its success mirrors positive updates from other operators; All Bar One and Toby Carvery owner M&B reported 7.7% festive like-for-like growth, while Fuller's saw an 8.2% increase.
Chris Hill concluded, "Finishing the year so strongly puts us in a brilliant position as we head into the new year." With its acquisition pipeline lined up, Urban Pubs and Bars is signalling that its expansion drive across London is far from over.
