The blistering summer heat has brought a cooling effect on Britain's roast dinner market, with Toby Carvery owner Mitchells & Butlers reporting a 2.4 per cent drop in food sales over the past three months. Meanwhile, drink sales have soared by 2.6 per cent during this period, as households opt for refreshing beverages instead of hot meals.
According to data from Mitchells & Butlers' quarterly trading update, the 'exceptional heat adversely affected our food-led businesses, particularly Toby Carvery', noted the company's management. However, a boost in drink sales, fuelled by the recent World Cup and favourable weather conditions, has contributed to a modest 1.3 per cent increase in overall turnover compared to 2025.
The news comes as no surprise given the UK's summer heatwave, which has seen temperatures soar above average. As a result, many Britons are likely to be rethinking their meal options, with pub-goers opting for lighter and more refreshing choices. This trend is reflected in Mitchells & Butlers' results, where drink sales have outpaced food sales by 0.2 per cent.
Despite the decline in food sales, Mitchells & Butlers' shares have remained relatively stable at £263p since the beginning of the year. Chief executive Phil Urban commented on the company's resilience, stating that its diversified portfolio had 'moderated the impact of external factors'. The FTSE 250-listed pub chain has indeed shown a degree of resistance to external pressures, including rising costs and challenging consumer sentiment.
JD Wetherspoon, another major UK pub group, is facing similar challenges. The company's founder and chairman, Tim Martin, issued his fourth profit warning in as many months on Wednesday, citing 'surging food and energy costs' and increasing business rates. Shares in JD Wetherspoon plummeted by over nine per cent to 686p on the same day, bringing the stock down seven per cent year-to-date.