Managed pub and bar operator TCG is predicting a healthy uplift in festive sales this year, based on a 10% rise in advance bookings compared to this time last year, with its sites out of London up by an impressive 20%.
The increase follows a concerted drive by TCG to grow its slice of the Christmas market across the business. Festive menus were launched early in the company’s unbranded pubs and bars, as well as its King’s Feast community pubs and Henry’s Café Bars, while a new ‘Christmas Champions’ scheme helped a number of individual sites to plan ahead and maximise sales.
TCG director of operations Ben Levick said, “We’re delighted with the level of advance bookings for the Christmas season this year, especially out of London. It’s a testament to the hard work of teams across our estate, who have made sure that their pub or bar is seen locally as the best place to celebrate the festive season.
“Key to our success this year has been having a flexible offer that allows our individual sites to cater for a wide range of festive occasions. Although many customers still want a traditional turkey-with-trimmings dinner, we’ve also seen growing demand for more informal drinks and canapé style gatherings. Our pubs and bars have gone out of their way to make their customers’ celebrations special, resulting in this excellent uplift in bookings.”
The Christmas Champions scheme, introduced this year, was designed to encourage pubs and bars to focus early on the festive season. In 18 of TCG’s mainstream sites, a member of staff was nominated as the Christmas Champion, and attended a one-day workshop in July. Sessions on festive POS, identifying potential customers and setting targets were included and all delegates have helped to achieve significant increases in bookings back in their pubs and bars.
Levick added, “We’ve taken some very large bookings, including one for £23,000 at Via in West India Quay. These are numbers we’ve not seen for a while, and confirm that, finally, the corporate Christmas appears to be back.”
Caption to attached image: Henry’s Café Bar Bromley, ready for the festive season
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Notes to editors:
- TCG operates a diverse estate of 67 managed pubs and bars nationwide.
- The business has a strong foothold in London, with high-profile sites such as the flagship Tattershall Castle floating bar and restaurant on the Embankment.
- The estate stretches across the country from Aberdeen to Newquay, and from Cardiff to Norwich. It includes late night bars, community and sports locals, student venues and quality town centre pubs, as well as a number of trading formats, such as the Henry’s Café Bar brand, Eerie Pubs and the King’s Feast food concept.
Issued on behalf of: TCG
By: ShielPorter Communications
Further information: Ros Shiel: ros@shielporter.com / 07841 694137
John Porter: john@shielporter.com / 07734 054389