Londoners opt to stay home following Paris attacks
Concerns about potential attacks on London have supposedly kept Londoners from dining out in November, according to industry sales barometer, the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.
Pubs and restaurants recorded a 1.5 per cent decline in like-for-like sales in the capital, with chain restaurants feeling the biggest impact.
In October sales were up 3.5 per cent on the year before, while in November of 2014 sales registered a 3.4 per cent increase on 2013.
Peter Martin, vice president of CGA Peach, the consultancy that produces the tracker, said: “The public’s nervousness is understandable and it seems London has been affected both by a drop-off in tourist business and Londoners not staying out as long after work.”
Restaurant groups in London were the hardest hit and posted a fall in sales of 2.6 per cent on November last year, with managed pubs behind by 0.8 per cent.
“London will be hoping that public confidence returns for the Christmas and New Year festive season, in what should be the industry’s busiest trading period.”
The strength of the pound will have also had an effect on the industry over the past year however, and this is expected to have had adverse effect on the spending of overseas visitors.
Trevor Watson, director at Davis Coffer Lyons, said: “This longer term effect, combined with the short term effect of the Paris bombings, is resulting in weak statistics for London in November. With the local London economy overall in good health, operators should however continue to look forward to a strong December.”