January UK bar bookings up 60%

While “Dry January” has seen alcohol sales at supermarkets halved, the opposite is the case for Britain’s bars, where bookings are up 60% on a year ago.

As reported by the Evening Standard, the cold weather and trend for abstinence in January isn’t putting people off going out. According to UK nightlife guide DesignMyNight, bar bookings at popular London venues like Dirty Martini, the London Cocktail Club are up 60% on last year.

This is also the case with Fuller’s pubs, though over half of the bookings made in January came in the second week of the month, hinting that a week off the sauce was all many could manage.

“Even before the popularity of Dry January, bars are always concerned about the noticeable negative effect the start of the year has on their businesses after the Christmas excess,” DesignMyNight founder Nick Telson told the Standard.

“However, consumers for the most part have been keeping January wet, looking for deals and happy hours to save money where possible and providing the bar and casual dining market with a steady run of bookings,” he added.

Rich Woods, head of spirits and cocktail development for Duck & Waffle in the Heron Tower, told db that the restaurant’s bar was enjoying a strong January.

“We’ve been full every night. If anything August is a more quiet month for us than January as we’re based in the City and it’s the time when people take their holidays,” he said.

Having launched a new dual cocktail list offering decadent anti-resolution drinks featuring the likes of foie gras and truffles alongside virtuous non-alcoholic cocktails a week ago, sales on both sides of the menu are soaring.

“We’ve sold 1,900 cocktails in a week, which even surprised us. The non-alcoholic cocktails are selling well but nothing can replace the buzz of alcohol,” Woods admitted.