The figures show that combined sales between pubs and restaurants in December were up by 28% compared to 2021. These will have been boosted by the FIFA World Cup being held in December as well as it being the first Christmas without trading restrictions for three years.

However, sales were 1% down when set against 2019. When inflation and price rises are considered, it indicates that hospitality is still some way behind pre-pandemic levels.

Restaurants sales were actually 2% higher in December 2022 than 2019, but were down in both November (-5%) and October (-2%) when compared to three years ago. Pub sales were 30% up compared to December 2021, but 8% down against December 2019, highlighting the continuing challenges the sector faces.

A Fourth spokesperson commented: “The cost-of-living crisis, rising energy prices, snow, and industrial action by rail workers in December, have hit hospitality at a time when consumer confidence is still yet to fully return following the pandemic.

"The best sales days of the month were across the first two weekends of December, indicating that customers were more likely to stay at home in the run up to Christmas, repeating the same habits we saw last year.”